title: Serum Vitamin D and Facial Aging: Is There a Link?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vitamin D endocrine system, besides multiple other functions, regulates aging in many tissues, including the skin. It protects the skin against the hazardous effects of many skin age-inducing agents, including ultraviolet radiation. Thus, in the present study we aimed to investigate the relationship between facial skin aging and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels in healthy Egyptian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one healthy adult subjects were included. Photodamage scores (erythema/telangiectasias, lentigines, hyperpigmentation and coarse wrinkling) were assessed and graded. Serum vitamin D was measured using enzyme immunoassay and subjects were classified as sufficient, insufficient or deficient according to the vitamin level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean 25(OH)D serum level was 43.90 nmol/l. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was detected in the studied subjects regardless of their age or gender. Also, vitamin D levels were not correlated with photodamage scores and were not affected by the Fitzpatrick skin phototype, duration of sun exposure per day or the use of sunscreens (p > 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging is a complex process that is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. Facial aging is not correlated with serum vitamin D level, and clinical trials using oral or topical vitamin D to combat aging are better predictors of its effects rather than in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Andrology and STDs, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufiya University, Shebin Elkoom, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Dawoud
authors.forename: Ola A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bakry
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shoeib
authors.forename: Huda N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ismael
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D