25-Hydroxyvitamin D as a biomarker of vitamin D status in plaque psoriasis and other dermatological diseases: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypovitaminosis D is a public health problem associated with several chronic inflammatory and immunological diseases, including psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with plaque psoriasis. A comparison was made between vitamin D levels in patients with psoriasis and those with other non-inflammatory dermatoses without photosensitivity. In addition, it evaluated the effects of the patients' Fitzpatrick skin phototype and the season of the year on the serum levels of vitamin D. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at an outpatient clinic in a university center in Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil. METHODS: A review of dermatology patients' demographic data, including skin phototype and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], over 12 months in 2016. RESULTS: This study included 554 patients: 300 patients allocated to the plaque psoriasis group and 254 control patients with other dermatological diseases. Regarding the season of the year, 229, 132, 62, and 131 participants were evaluated in summer, autumn, winter, and spring, respectively. As for the skin phototype, 397, 139, and 18 patients had phototypes III, IV, and V, respectively. The serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in the psoriasis group (24.91 ± 7.16 ng/mL) than in the control group (30.37 ± 8.14 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D (< 30 ng/mL) was present in 76.66% of patients with psoriasis versus 53.94% of control patients. Vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was observed in 25% of the patients with psoriasis versus 8.66% in the control group (P < 0.001). The season and patient's skin phototype were independent predictors of serum vitamin D levels.

Causal relationship between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia: Insights from Mendelian randomization analysis

“…Vitamin D analogs have long been used in treating psoriasis 64 . Vitamin D3 analogue is the main drug for treating mild to moderate plaque psoriasis vulgaris, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D can be used as a biomarker of vitamin D status in plaque psoriasis vulgaris 65,66 . Meanwhile, vitamin D status has been considered as a risk factor for VaD 67 .…”

“…64 Vitamin D3 analogue is the main drug for treating mild to moderate plaque psoriasis vulgaris, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D can be used as a biomarker of vitamin D status in plaque psoriasis vulgaris. 65,66 Meanwhile, vitamin D status has been considered as a risk factor for VaD. 67 Clinical studies have shown that reduced serum or plasma 25-hydroxyvi-taminD levels are associated with an increased risk of VaD.…”