title: Epidemiological and investigative study of premature graying of hair in higher secondary and pre-university school children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hair pigmentation is one of the most conspicuous phenotypes in humans ranging from black, brown, and blonde to red. Premature graying of hair occurs more commonly without any underlying pathology but is said to be inherited in autosomal dominant pattern. Premature graying has been shown to be associated with a few of the autoimmune disorders. A role for environmental factors and nutritional deficiencies has also been postulated. However, to date the exact etiology of premature graying has not been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study was to conduct an epidemiological and investigative study of premature graying of hair in higher secondary and pre-university school children of the semi-urban area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 35 cases and controls were investigated for various parameter such as Hemoglobin, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin (S. Ferritin), serum calcium (S. Ca), serum iron (S. Iron), vitamin B12, and vitamin D3 after taking informed consent. Epidemiological and investigations correlation was established using the Chi-square and Mann Whitney test and P < 0.05 values were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the various laboratory parameters S. Ca, S. Ferritin and vitamin D3 were low in patients with premature graying of hair. There was significant high number of vitamin D3 deficient and insufficient among the cases compared to the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our study S. Ca, S. Ferritin, vitamin D3 may play a role in premature graying of hair in our society.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Father Muller Medical College and Hospital, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Ramesh M
authors: RM
authors: Bhat
authors: Rashmi
authors: R
authors: Sharma
authors: Anita C
authors: AC
authors: Pinto
authors: Sukumar
authors: S
authors: Dandekeri
authors: Jacintha
authors: J
authors: Martis
keywords: Calcium; ferritin; premature graying of hair; vitamin D3
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