A Study to assess the association of vitamin D (serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D3) and vitiligo

Abstract

Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary anomaly of the skin. It is manifested via de-pigmentary white patches on the skin with normal border or surrounding hyperpigmentation. Over the recent years, vitD (vitamin D) is implicated in a wide variety of medical conditions. It functions like a hormone and is produced in the skin where it plays an important role in skin pigmentation, increase enzyme action of tyrosinase and thus also affects melanin production. It also displays various immunoregulatory functions. VitD is found to be reduced in autoimmune diseases, like SLE, DM, alopecia areata, RA and multiple sclerosis. There has been very few studies (over the past 10 years) to study the association of vitD (in blood samples) and vitiligo but their results were inconsistent and conflicting. Aim: This study aimed to determine any association between serum vitamin D levels and vitiligo. Materials and Methodology: In our study fifty diagnosed vitiligo patients and fifty healthy controls were included. VitD levels were measured from blood samples. Appropriate statistical methods were used for group comparisons. Results: Serum vitD values were found to be less in cases than controls, but this difference was not satistically significant (p = 0.570). Conclusion: Since the role of vitD in pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unclear there is a need for larger controlled studies for establishing the association between lower circulating values of vitD and vitiligo.