Objective: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting autoimmune disorder of the skin. The disease association with autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid diseases, has been reported. Previous studies among patients with vitiligo have suggested possible correlation between zinc and vitamin D levels with conflicting results. Here we compared the thyroid hormones, zinc, and vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo with normal healthy subjects.
Materials and Methods: We recruited 98 patients with vitiligo and 98 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects visiting dermatology clinics during spring and summer 2017. Serum zinc and vitamin D levels as well as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) were measured and compared between groups.
Results: Patients with vitiligo had significantly lower zinc (p=0.01) and higher anti-TPO levels (p=0.02) with no difference in vitamin D (p=0.73) and TSH levels (p=0.31). Patients with vitiligo had also significantly higher rate of increased TSH (p=0.02) and positive anti-TPO (p=0.01). We observed no significant correlation between serum levels of vitamin D, zinc, and TSH with age, gender, and disease duration in patients with vitiligo.
Conclusion: Patients with vitiligo, compared to healthy subjects, had lower serum zinc levels, but not vitamin D levels. Increased TSH levels were higher in patients with vitiligo with non-significantly higher anti-TPO AB as suggested to be related to autoimmune disease.