Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increases with NB-UVB and UVA/UVB phototherapy in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Western Australia.
OBJECTIVE
The benefit of NB-UVB phototherapy on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in patients with inflammatory skin conditions has been reported in the northern hemisphere. Vitamin D status is known to differ between geographical latitudes. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of NB-UVB and UVA/UVB phototherapy on the 25(OH)D serum levels in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Western Australia.


METHODS
A total of 35 patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis requiring phototherapy thrice weekly for a minimum of 4 weeks were enrolled. Of these, 20 patients completed the study. Serum vitamin D levels were measured at baseline and at approximately 6 weeks into phototherapy. Data were adjusted for season, patients' age, sex, skin condition and Fitzpatrick skin phototype.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant increase in serum 25(OH)D from pre- to post-NB-UVB and UVA/UVB phototherapy (P < 0.0001), with a mean raw increase of 34.6 (25) nmol/L; or 45.1 (7.5) nmol/L when adjusted for covariates. This was also true for patients receiving NB-UVB phototherapy with a baseline vitamin D of <80 nmol/L (P < 0.05) and >80 nmol/L (P < 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
NB-UVB and UVA/UVB phototherapy significantly increased 25(OH)D serum level in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Western Australia. Our study cohort had a higher baseline vitamin D level and a lower percentage increase of serum 25(OH)D post-phototherapy than the increases reported in the literature from cohorts in the northern hemisphere.
Department of Dermatology, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle.
Patricia
P
Le
Department of Dermatology, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle.
Jenny
J
Tu
Department of Dermatology, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle.
Kurt
K
Gebauer
Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
Suzanne
S
Brown
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects; D014904:Western Australia
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25-hydroxyvitamin D; Fitzpatrick skin phototype; NB-UVB; UVA/UVB; broadband; narrowband; phototherapy; vitamin D; western Australia