title: Association between vitamin D levels and alopecia areata.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease, based on the response to local and/or systemic corticosteroid treatment. The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of immune/autoimmune mediated diseases has been widely studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a possible association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and alopecia areata.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 23 patients diagnosed with AA followed at our outpatient clinic during the period March 2010 to May 2011, as well as a control group matched for age and gender. All subjects underwent a complete work-up and medical examination, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Laboratory tests included complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and vitamin D levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CRP values were significantly higher in the AA group than the control group (1.1 +/- 0.7 mg/dl vs. 0.4 +/- 0.8 mg/ dl, P < 0.05). Vitamin D levels were significantly decreased in the AA group (11.32 +/- 10.18 ng/ml vs. 21.55 +/- 13.62 ng/ml in the control group, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that CRP (odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 2.6-4.2, P = 0.04) and serum vitamin D levels < 30 ng/ml (OR 2.3, 95% CI 2.2-3.1, P = 0.02) were associated with AA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a significant correlation between AA and vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can be a significant risk factor for AA occurrence.
authors: Mahmud
authors: M
authors: Mahamid
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Abu-Elhija
authors: Mosab
authors: M
authors: Samamra
authors: Ammad
authors: A
authors: Mahamid
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Nseir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D