Correlation between Vitamin D Deficiency and Seborrheic Dermatitis in Patients Referred to the Dermatology Clinic of Sina Hospital, Hamadan, Iran

Background and Objective: Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases that affect the sebaceous glands. Although the exact role of vitamin D in this disease is still not clearly understood, some studies have shown lower serum levels of vitamin D in seborrheic dermatitis patients. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and seborrheic dermatitis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted in Sina Hospital, Hamadan, Iran. The study sample included 39 seborrheic dermatitis patients (case group) and 39 healthy individuals (control group) who were matched in terms of gender and age. The groups were then compared regarding serum vitamin D level. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 16.0; SPSS Inc.Chicago, IL). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, educational level, place of residence, and occupational status. The mean serum levels of vitamin D in the case and control groups were 11.82±5.56 and 21.38±6.79ng/ml, respectively (P=0.001). Furthermore, in the case and control groups, 18 (46.2%) and 1 (2.6%) individuals had vitamin D deficiency; 20 (51.3%) and 34 (87.2%) cases had inadequate vitamin D levels; and 1(2.6%) and 4 (10.3%) subjects had adequate levels of vitamin D, respectively. Therefore, the serum level of vitamin D was significantly lower in the case group, compared to the control group (P=0.001). Moreover, the serum level of vitamin D did not correlate with the duration and severity of seborrheic dermatitis disease (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, patients with seborrheic dermatitis had lower serum vitamin D levels, compared to the general population, which may be related to the pathogenicity of the disease.