Significance of iron levels in patients with non-cicatricial alopecias: a cross sectional study

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background: </strong>Among all the nutritional causes of hair loss, iron levels are found to be important key nutrient. Synthesis of hair involves many steps which require iron as a cofactor. The intention of present study is to evaluate relationship between iron and hair loss. The objectives of the study are to study the clinical patterns, demographic and epidemiological factors associated with hair loss and to find association between iron study parameter (Hb, serum iron, serum ferritin, TIBC) and hair loss.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was a cross section- observational study, conducted among the patients with diagnosed non-cicatricial alopecias from June 2018 to April 2019. A total of 50 study participants were recruited. Specific investigations like hair pull test and trichogram were done. Chi square test was applied and p<0.05 was considered significant.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Among the total 50 participants 35 (70%) were males and 15 (30%) were females. Mean (±SD) age was 44 (±9.5) years. Mean (SD) of haemoglobin, serum iron, TIBC and ferritin are 9.6 (±2.6), 75.5 (±50), 365 (±54) and 106 (±87) respectively. Trichogram result proves telogen hair- 22 (44%), dystrophic hair loss- 14 (28%) and anagen hair loss-14 (28%). Hair pull test was positive in 27 (54%). Higher proportion of male pattern hair loss was associated with lower haemoglobin and low serum ferritin levels. (p value -0.046, 0.031)</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Significant association was found between the diagnosis of non cicatricial alopecia and mean values of haemoglobin and serum ferritin with lower haemoglobin and low serum ferritin was mostly associated with male pattern hair loss.</p>