Evaluating the serum zinc and vitamin D levels in alopecia areata
Sara Saniee, Armaghan Ghareaghaji Zare, Afsaneh Radmehr
Abstract:
Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common localized nonscarring hair loss. Vitamin D and such trace elements as zinc have significant immunomodulatory roles and are reduced in many autoimmune diseases. We aim to evaluate the zinc and vitamin D levels in AA patients belonging to an Iranian population.
Methods: We randomly recruited 77 patients with AA, and 112 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Serum zinc and vitamin D levels were measured and compared between groups. Patients were considered vitamin D deficient or insufficient if 25-OH vitamin D levels were <10 and 10 to 30 ng/ml, respectively.
Results: Disease duration was 6.73±1.05 months. Compared to the control group, AA patients had significantly lower zinc (87.78±20.61 vs. 92.76±28.00, p=0.008) and vitamin D levels (20.23±11.11 vs. 25.63±15.90, p=0.01) and higher vitamin D deficiency (19.5% vs. 10.7%, p=0.03). There were significant correlations between AA duration and zinc levels (r=0.483, p<0.001); no recognizable relationship, on the other hand, was observed with vitamin D levels (r=0.022, p=0.84).
Conclusion: There were significantly lower levels of zinc and vitamin D in AA patients, compared to normal subjects. Zinc level is inversely correlated with disease duration, and both zinc and vitamin D play crucial roles in AA pathogenesis and are possible supplements in AA treatment.
Keywords: alopecia areata, vitamin D, zinc
Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis with Skin involvement; an amazing case report Sara Saniee, Niloofar Afshari, Saeed Kashefi Abstract Introduction: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a
Necrolytic Migratory Erythema Associated With Glucagonoma Syndrome Sara Saniee, Yalda Saniee, Armaghan G Zare, Ghazaleh Davarnia Abstract Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) is a rare cutaneous
Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in melanocytic skin lesions by immunohistochemistry Armaghan Ghareaghaji Zare, Effat Khodayiani , Sara Saniee, Shahla Talghini Abstract Introduction: cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved
Coexistance of Pemphigus Vulgaris and Psoriasis in a Middle Aged Man Sara Saniee, Armaghan Ghareaghaji Zare Abstract Psoriasis and pemphigus vulgaris are two inflammatory and
Human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis co-infections among patients with anogenital warts in Tabriz, Iran Sara Saniee , Hamideh Herizchi-Qadim1, Mohammadreza