A Case Control Study: Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin B12 Levels in Vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a common, acquired, often heritable, multifactorial, polygenic pigmentary disorder. Low levels of Vitamin D, an essential hormone synthesized in the skin with diverse effects on immune system have been associated with several autoimmune diseases including vitiligo. OBJECTIVES: To study the association of the serum levels of Vitamin B12 and D3 in patients with vitiligo vulgaris in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study conducted over a period of four months that included 30 clinically diagnosed cases of vitiligo and 30 age and sex matched controls. The serum levels of Vitamin D3 and B12 levels were measured in all subjects by Chemiluminiscient immunoassay. Statistical analysis was conducted by using Student’s t test and Mann Whitney test of the data collected by questionnaire. Results: The mean value of serum Vitamin D3 levels was 22.10, values in males being significantly lower among the cases compared to the controls. Mean value of serum vitamin B12 (348.6) was significantly decreased in vitiligo group as compared to controls. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that there is an association between low serum levels of Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12 with Vitiligo respectively suggesting the screening of these parameters to be made routine in Vitiligo patients.