Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, autoimmune, nonscarring hair loss which displays a wide clinical spectrum from localized to generalized variants. It may have a long, relapsing, and unpredictable course. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in the hair follicles. Vitamin D functions as a m...

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Main Authors: Sneha Sonker, Vibhu Mendiratta, Ekta Debnath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpd.ijpd_53_23
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author Sneha Sonker
Vibhu Mendiratta
Ekta Debnath
author_facet Sneha Sonker
Vibhu Mendiratta
Ekta Debnath
author_sort Sneha Sonker
collection DOAJ
description Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, autoimmune, nonscarring hair loss which displays a wide clinical spectrum from localized to generalized variants. It may have a long, relapsing, and unpredictable course. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in the hair follicles. Vitamin D functions as a modulator of immune functions of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. Deficiency of Vitamin D may be associated with increased risk of AA in children. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare serum Vitamin D levels in pediatric AA with age- and sex-matched controls and to correlate it with severity, duration, pattern of AA, and nail changes. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based case–control study of 40 cases of AA aged <18 years along with 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All subjects underwent complete evaluation and laboratory investigations including serum Vitamin D. Results: The mean serum Vitamin D was 39.98 ± 18.06 (nmol/L) in cases and 32.26 ± 12.22 (nmol/L) in controls. There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.080) in Vitamin D levels between the cases and controls. No statistically significant correlation was found between Vitamin D levels and severity, duration of AA, pattern of AA, and nail changes. Conclusion: Role of Vitamin D in AA could not be substantiated in our study. There was no correlation between duration, severity, AA pattern, nail changes, and Vitamin D level. Small sample size was a limitation. Further studies with bigger sample size are needed as the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is high in India.
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spelling doaj-art-6abae50afe144a1b80d43f2da805f3f22025-08-20T02:26:36ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology2319-72502319-72692025-01-01261162010.4103/ijpd.ijpd_53_23Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia AreataSneha SonkerVibhu MendirattaEkta DebnathBackground: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, autoimmune, nonscarring hair loss which displays a wide clinical spectrum from localized to generalized variants. It may have a long, relapsing, and unpredictable course. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in the hair follicles. Vitamin D functions as a modulator of immune functions of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. Deficiency of Vitamin D may be associated with increased risk of AA in children. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare serum Vitamin D levels in pediatric AA with age- and sex-matched controls and to correlate it with severity, duration, pattern of AA, and nail changes. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based case–control study of 40 cases of AA aged <18 years along with 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All subjects underwent complete evaluation and laboratory investigations including serum Vitamin D. Results: The mean serum Vitamin D was 39.98 ± 18.06 (nmol/L) in cases and 32.26 ± 12.22 (nmol/L) in controls. There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.080) in Vitamin D levels between the cases and controls. No statistically significant correlation was found between Vitamin D levels and severity, duration of AA, pattern of AA, and nail changes. Conclusion: Role of Vitamin D in AA could not be substantiated in our study. There was no correlation between duration, severity, AA pattern, nail changes, and Vitamin D level. Small sample size was a limitation. Further studies with bigger sample size are needed as the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is high in India.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpd.ijpd_53_23alopecia areataautoimmune diseasespediatricseverity of alopecia tool scorevitamin d
spellingShingle Sneha Sonker
Vibhu Mendiratta
Ekta Debnath
Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology
alopecia areata
autoimmune diseases
pediatric
severity of alopecia tool score
vitamin d
title Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
title_full Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
title_fullStr Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
title_full_unstemmed Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
title_short Serum Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
title_sort serum vitamin d level in pediatric alopecia areata
topic alopecia areata
autoimmune diseases
pediatric
severity of alopecia tool score
vitamin d
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpd.ijpd_53_23
work_keys_str_mv AT snehasonker serumvitamindlevelinpediatricalopeciaareata
AT vibhumendiratta serumvitamindlevelinpediatricalopeciaareata
AT ektadebnath serumvitamindlevelinpediatricalopeciaareata