To Estimate Serum Vitamin D Levels in Alopecia Areata at Tertiary Care Hospital

Dr. Ankush Babal, Dr. Mohd Suhail Sulaiman, Dr. Pooja Saroj

Abstract: Introduction: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder that results in non-scarring hair loss and carries a significant psychological burden. While its pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of genetic and immune factors, recent evidence points towards a potential role for vitamin D, an important immunomodulator, in various autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to impaired hair follicle function and immune dysregulation, suggesting it may contribute to the development or severity of AA. This study was designed to assess the serum vitamin D levels in patients with AA at a tertiary care centre in India and to explore the relationship between these levels and the clinical characteristics of the disease. Objectives: 1) To study the clinical and demographic profile of patients diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. 2) To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in this patient cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 67 clinically diagnosed AA patients at F.H. Medical College, Agra. After obtaining informed consent, a detailed history and clinical examination were performed. The severity of hair loss was quantified using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured using the chemiluminescence method. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0, and correlations were assessed, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 67 patients with a mean age of 32.68 ? 9.87 years and a slight male predominance (56.72%). The majority of patients (44.78%) presented with a disease duration of less than three months. Patchy alopecia was the most common presentation, with 49.25% of patients having 1-2 patches. A significant portion of patients exhibited vitamin D deficiency (32.84%) or insufficiency (44.78%). The mean serum vitamin D level for the cohort was 19.37 ? 7.55 ng/mL. Although lower vitamin D levels showed a trend of association with longer disease duration and greater severity (higher SALT score), these correlations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was observed in patients with alopecia areata. This finding suggests a potential underlying link between vitamin D status and the pathophysiology of AA. While a statistically significant correlation with disease severity or duration was not established in this cohort, the data warrants further, larger-scale research, including controlled trials, to investigate the therapeutic potential of vitamin D supplementation in the management of alopecia areata.

Keywords: Alopecia Areata, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Autoimmune Disorder, Hair Loss, SALT Score, Immune Regulation

How to Cite?: Dr. Ankush Babal, Dr. Mohd Suhail Sulaiman, Dr. Pooja Saroj, "To Estimate Serum Vitamin D Levels in Alopecia Areata at Tertiary Care Hospital", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1039-1042, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25815104425, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25815104425