Vitamin D Status and the Effect of Oral Vitamin D Treatment in Children with Alopecia Areata

Abstract

Objectives: Little is known about the association of vitamin D and alopecia areata (AA). Our objectives were to search a relation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the development of AA and the efficacy of oral vitamin D treatment in children with AA and vitamin D deficiency. Methods: Thirty newly diagnosed AA patients and 30 sex- and age-matched controls were included in the study. Levels of 25(OH)D, parathormone, calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase were measured at baseline and sixth month. Both patients and controls who diagnosed vitamin D deficiency were treated with oral vitamin D for six months. Results: Serum 25(OH) D levels of the patients and controls were 25.3 ± 19.4 ng/ml and 21.3 ± 12.5 ng/ml, respectively (p>0.05). The frequency of vitamin D deficiency was similar in patients and controls. Serum levels of 25(OH)D and calcium were increased significantly after six months of the treatment in both patients and controls with vitamin D deficiency (p<0.05). A higher frequency (47%) of complete improvement was observed in patients with AA and vitamin D deficiency during oral vitamin D treatment. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in 25(OH)D levels between the patients with AA and controls. However, we observed a higher frequency of complete improvement in these patients with an improved vitamin D status. Thus, oral vitamin D treatment can be given only to selected AA patients who are also deficient in vitamin D.