Vitamin D serum level in vitiligo patients: a case-control study from Iran

Background: Generalized vitiligo is characterized by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, which results in patches of the depigmented skin and the overlying hair. Vitamin D is an essential hormone synthesized in the skin and is responsible for skin pigmentation. Low vitamin D levels have been noted in patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases. A recent study showed that low vitamin D levels may be associated with vitiligo. The aim of this study was to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) levels in Iranian patients with vitiligo with normal controls. Method: In this case-control study, we studied 30 newly diagnosed patients with vitiligo and 30 healthy controls through a case control design. Two groups were matched for gender, age, and the season in which the serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured. The serum levels were categorized as sufficient, insufficient and deficient. Result: The mean serum level of vitamin D was 10.24±1.27 ng/ mL in patients compared to 18.31±7.39 ng/mL in the control group. Male patients had lower levels of vitamin D compared to controls (7.25 ng/mL vs. 13.31ng/mL, P=0.03), while no significant difference was observed between females and controls (14.12 ng/ mL vs. 16.25 ng/mL, P=0.51). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that there may be an association between low levels of Vitamin D3 and vitiligo in men.