title: Folic acid and vitamin B12 in vitiligo: a nutritional approach.
abstract: When compared with the normal population, patients with vitiligo often showed diminished blood levels of folic acid. In a group of fifteen patients with vitiligo, folic acid levels were below normal in the serum of eleven patients, in the whole blood of five patients, and in the erythrocytes of six patients. Vitamin B12 serum levels were below normal in five of the fifteen patients. Ascorbic acid plasma levels were also lowered in four of the patients. In eight patients prolonged oral administration of folic acid with simultaneous parenteral treatment with vitamin B12 and oral ascorbic acid was followed by definite repigmentation without side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham Medical Center.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lajous
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid