Study of the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in patients with seborrheic dermatitis

Abstract

PURPOSE: Seborrheic dermatitis is papulosquamous disorder affecting 3-5% of the population. Its pathogenesis is not elucidated yet. The purpose of our study was to find out the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH) vitamin D) in patients with clinicaly manifested seborrheic dermatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients, 11 females and 11males, were examined for serum 25-(OH) vitamin D. One patient was at remission stage. The values were measured by means of electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. The study was carried out between November and August. RESULTS: During the whole period of the study none of the patients showed optimal level of serum 25-(OH) vitamin D. Three patients presented with suboptimal values of 25-(OH) vitamin D (13.6% of the cases). The rest 19 patients (86,3%) showed insufficiency of 25-(OH) vitamin D with values under 30 ng/mL and 13 of them (68.4%) were with pronounced deficiency - serum 25-(OH) vitamin D under 20 ng/mL. Only two patients (10.5%) presented with a severe deficiency and value of 25-(OH) vitamin D under 10 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: We could conclude that the patients with exacerbated seborrheic dermatitis present with 25-(OH) vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Our results allow us to suggest that vit. D may play a role in the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis. Consequently, its supplementation may be used in the treatment of this pathology. To our knowledge, this is the first study of serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels in patients with seborrheic dermatitis and these results promise multiple directions for further research. Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(1): 75-78.