Serum ferritin and vitamin D levels in premature hair graying of college student at the Universitas Sumatera Utara area

Abstract

Premature hair graying (PHG) is defined as a person has five gray hairs and < 25 years old in Asia. Although genetic factors associated with PHG, environmental factors and micronutrient deficiencies are risk factors of PHG. This study was designed to evaluate serum ferritin and vitamin D levels in PHG of young adult at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) area. We conducted a cross-sectional study recruited 100 respondents with the inclusion criteria: male sex, < 25 years old, have PHG and does not have skin pigmentation disorders. The data were collected by questionnaires including age, location of graying, and number of gray hairs. The blood samples were collected to assess serum ferritin and vitamin D levels by Elisa methods. The mean age was 20.09 ± 2.01 years (mean ± SD). Distribution pattern of gray reported diffuse or undefined (35%), followed by the parietal regions (31%), frontal, occipital and temporal was 6%, 5% and 2% respectively. The majority of cases decreased of vitamin D level was 77% and normal status was 23% of cases, whereas serum ferritin level showed 91% was normal status, 6% was low and 3% was high of cases. There was not significant difference between number of graying with serum ferritin and vitamin D levels were p=0.633 and p=0.191 respectively. Limitation of the study female sex not evaluated. The vitamin D deficiency associated with PHG was found of college student at USU area.