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Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study

Received: 14 August 2020    Accepted: 24 August 2020    Published: 16 September 2020
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Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of melanocytes by immune mechanisms. The role of vitamin B12 and folate in melanin synthesis has been well recognized. Aim of the study: To evaluate the serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate in Libyan patients with vitiligo vulgaris. Patients and Methods: Blood samples for haemoglobin (Hb) level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum levels of Vitamin B12 and folate were obtained from 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and 50 age and sex-matched healthy controls at Dermatology Department of Eljumhoria Hospital in Benghazi, Libya. Results: 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris, with mean of age 34±6 years, 34% had active disease. Blood Hb level was non-significantly lower in 26% vitiligo patients as compared to 16% control subjects (P=0.064). A significant difference was observed regarding the MCV level which was lower in vitiligo patients in comparison to that of control subjects (P=0.03). 38% of vitiligo patients have microcytic anemia (P=0.142). None of the patients has macrocytic anemia. Female patients were found to have significantly lower Hb and lower MCV than males (P=.000). Serum vitamin B12 and folate were lower in patients than control subjects and this difference was statistically significant (P=.05, P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate with sex, age, family history, duration and activity of the disease ( P >0.05). Conclusions: Decreased levels of serum vitamin B12 and folate are significantly prevalent in vitiligo patients, and screening vitiligo patients for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may be warranted.

Published in International Journal of Clinical Dermatology (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11
Page(s) 19-21
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vitiligo, Serum, Vitamin B12, Folate

References
[1] Ozturk IC, Batcioglu K, Karatas F, Hazneci E, Genc M. Comparison of plasma malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, hydroxyproline and selenium levels in patients with vitiligo and healthy controls. Indian J Dermatol 2008; 53: 106-10.
[2] Alikhan A, Felsten LM, Daly M, Petronic-Rosic V. Vitiligo: A comprehensive overview part I. Introduction, epidemiology, quality of life, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, associations, histopathology, etiology, and work-up. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011; 65: 473–91.
[3] Sawicki J, Siddha S, Rosen C. Vitiligo and associated autoimmune disease: retrospective review of 300 patients. J Cutan Med Surg. 2012; 16 (4): 261-6.
[4] Tsai TY, Kuo CY, Huang YC. Serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in patients with vitiligo and their potential roles as disease activity biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019; 80 (3): 6 46-654.
[5] Alkhateeb A, Fain PR, Thody A, et al. Epidemiology of vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases in Caucasian probands and their families. Pigment Cell Res. 2003; 16: 208–214.
[6] Kim SM, Kim YK, Hann SK. Serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in Korean patients with vitiligo. Yonsei Med J 1999; 40: 195-8.
[7] Park HH, Lee MH. Serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate in Korean patients with vitiligo. Acta Derm Venereol. 2005; 85 (1): 66-7.
[8] Tjioe M, Gerritsen MJ, Juhlin L, van de Kerkhof PC. Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with NB-UVB (311 nm) for one year and the effect of addition of folic acid and vitamin B12. Acta Derm Venereol 2002; 82: 369–372.
[9] Mubki T, Alissa A, Mulekar S, Albargawi S, Youssef M & AlJasser, M. Association of vitiligo with anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid dysfunction in Saudi Arab patients: A case control study. Journal of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery. 2017 (21): 72–76.
[10] Gopal, KV, Rao GR, Kumar YH. Increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus in Indian vitiligo patients: a case-control study. Indian Dermatol. Online J. 2014 (4): 456–460.
[11] Gonul M, Cakmak SK, Oguz D, Gul U, Kilic S. Profile of vitiligo patients attending a training and research hospital in Central Anatolia: a retrospective study. J Dermatol. 2012 (2): 156–159.
[12] Shahmoradi Z, Najafian J, Naeini FF, Fahimipour F. Vitiligo and autoantibodies of celiac disease. Int. J. Prev. Med. 2013 (2): 200–203.
[13] Gonul M, Cakmak SK, Soylu S, Kilic A, Gul U. Serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and iron levels in Turkish patients with vitiligo. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2010; 76: 448.
[14] Alissa A, Al Eisa A, Huma R, Mulekar S. Vitiligo-epidemiological study of 4134 patients at the National Center for Vitiligo and Psoriasis in Central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med. J. 2011 (12): 1291–1296.
[15] Shaker OG, El-Tahlawi SM. Is there a relationship between homocysteine and vitiligo? A pilot study. Br. J. Dermatol. 2008 (3): 720–724.
[16] Juhlin L, Olsson MJ. Improvement of vitiligo after oral treatment with vitamin B12 and folic acid and the importance of sun exposure. Acta Derm Venereol 1997; 77: 460–462.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nadia Abdalhafid El Sherif, Salwa Abdalsalam El-Dibany, Azza El Saddiek Hussein Greiw. (2020). Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study. International Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 3(2), 19-21. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11

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    ACS Style

    Nadia Abdalhafid El Sherif; Salwa Abdalsalam El-Dibany; Azza El Saddiek Hussein Greiw. Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study. Int. J. Clin. Dermatol. 2020, 3(2), 19-21. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11

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    AMA Style

    Nadia Abdalhafid El Sherif, Salwa Abdalsalam El-Dibany, Azza El Saddiek Hussein Greiw. Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study. Int J Clin Dermatol. 2020;3(2):19-21. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11,
      author = {Nadia Abdalhafid El Sherif and Salwa Abdalsalam El-Dibany and Azza El Saddiek Hussein Greiw},
      title = {Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study},
      journal = {International Journal of Clinical Dermatology},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {19-21},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcd.20200302.11},
      abstract = {Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of melanocytes by immune mechanisms. The role of vitamin B12 and folate in melanin synthesis has been well recognized. Aim of the study: To evaluate the serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate in Libyan patients with vitiligo vulgaris. Patients and Methods: Blood samples for haemoglobin (Hb) level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum levels of Vitamin B12 and folate were obtained from 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and 50 age and sex-matched healthy controls at Dermatology Department of Eljumhoria Hospital in Benghazi, Libya. Results: 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris, with mean of age 34±6 years, 34% had active disease. Blood Hb level was non-significantly lower in 26% vitiligo patients as compared to 16% control subjects (P=0.064). A significant difference was observed regarding the MCV level which was lower in vitiligo patients in comparison to that of control subjects (P=0.03). 38% of vitiligo patients have microcytic anemia (P=0.142). None of the patients has macrocytic anemia. Female patients were found to have significantly lower Hb and lower MCV than males (P=.000). Serum vitamin B12 and folate were lower in patients than control subjects and this difference was statistically significant (P=.05, P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate with sex, age, family history, duration and activity of the disease ( P >0.05). Conclusions: Decreased levels of serum vitamin B12 and folate are significantly prevalent in vitiligo patients, and screening vitiligo patients for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may be warranted.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Vitiligo Patients: A Case Control Study
    AU  - Nadia Abdalhafid El Sherif
    AU  - Salwa Abdalsalam El-Dibany
    AU  - Azza El Saddiek Hussein Greiw
    Y1  - 2020/09/16
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11
    T2  - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology
    JF  - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology
    JO  - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology
    SP  - 19
    EP  - 21
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2995-1305
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20200302.11
    AB  - Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of melanocytes by immune mechanisms. The role of vitamin B12 and folate in melanin synthesis has been well recognized. Aim of the study: To evaluate the serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate in Libyan patients with vitiligo vulgaris. Patients and Methods: Blood samples for haemoglobin (Hb) level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum levels of Vitamin B12 and folate were obtained from 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and 50 age and sex-matched healthy controls at Dermatology Department of Eljumhoria Hospital in Benghazi, Libya. Results: 50 patients with vitiligo vulgaris, with mean of age 34±6 years, 34% had active disease. Blood Hb level was non-significantly lower in 26% vitiligo patients as compared to 16% control subjects (P=0.064). A significant difference was observed regarding the MCV level which was lower in vitiligo patients in comparison to that of control subjects (P=0.03). 38% of vitiligo patients have microcytic anemia (P=0.142). None of the patients has macrocytic anemia. Female patients were found to have significantly lower Hb and lower MCV than males (P=.000). Serum vitamin B12 and folate were lower in patients than control subjects and this difference was statistically significant (P=.05, P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate with sex, age, family history, duration and activity of the disease ( P >0.05). Conclusions: Decreased levels of serum vitamin B12 and folate are significantly prevalent in vitiligo patients, and screening vitiligo patients for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may be warranted.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya

  • Dermatology Department, Omar El-Mukhtar University, Al-Beida, Libya

  • Department of Family and Community Medicine, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya

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