Status of Serum Vitamin-D Level among the Patients with Alopecia Areata in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Alopecia areata is a common problem faced by many younger people, which has variety of risk factors. Vitamin D has emerged as a molecule with key role to play in various disorders. Recent evidences suggest inconsistent association between vitamin D deficiency and alopecia areata. We have very few research-oriented data regarding this issue. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess the status of serum Vitamin-D level among the patients with alopecia areata. Methods: This was a prospective case control study which was conducted in the Department of Dermatology & Venereology, Anwer Khan Modern Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from January 2018 to December 2019. In total 30 patients with alopecia areata and 30 healthy people were finalized as the study population. Group of 30 alopecia areata (AA) was denoted as Group A (Case) and group of healthy people was denoted as Group B (Control). All patients were subjected to detailed history taking and examination to detect pattern, severity (SALT score) of AA. Blood samples were taken from all subjects to do complete blood count and to assess serum levels of vitamin-D3, random blood sugar, and calcium. All data were processed, analyzed and disseminated by MS Office and SPSS version 20 as per need. Results: The mean (±SD) vitamin level was found 8.63 ± 2.24 ng/mL among case group patients. On the other hand, it was found 30.26 ± 7.81 ng/mL among control group participants which was significantly higher than that of case group patients (P<0.0001). In analyzing the comparative status of Vitamin D level of several SALT score patients with control group we observed, in comparison with all the S1 patients, S2 patients, S3 patients and S4 patients the P values were found less than 0.0001. So, among all the above cases groups patients the level of vitamin D(ng/mL) were extremely significantly lower than that of control participants (In all comparison the P value were less than 0.0001). Besides among S5 patients, vitamin D level was also significantly lower than that of control group participants where P value was found 0.0002. Conclusion: Deficiency of vitamin D level is a potential factor of alopecia areata. Lower vitamin D levels were observed in patients with alopecia areata and significant inverse correlation exists between vitamin D levels and duration/severity of the disease. These findings may suggest a causal role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis and therapeutic role of vitamin D supplementation in the management of alopecia areata.