Vitamin D Status and Its Relationship with Disease Severity/activity in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria in Korea

Kim, Wonjeong; Kim, Jun Young; Park, Min Young; Song, Margaret; Kim, Hoon Soo; Ko, Hyun Chang; Kim, Byung Soo; Kim, Moon Bum

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Deficiency of vitamin D is reported to be an important factor associated with various dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, urticaria, and skin cancers. However, this association is disputable and has not been clarified.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the status of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in patients with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic urticaria, and examine the relationship between vitamin D levels and disease severity/activity compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 23, 34, and 73 patients with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria, respectively, and sex- and age-matched controls was conducted. Objective severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (eczema area and severity index) and psoriasis (psoriasis area and severity index), the urticaria activity score, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured for each subject.
RESULTS
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly lower in atopic dermatitis patients than those in the controls (p<0.05). However, mean vitamin D levels in psoriasis and chronic idiopathic urticaria patients were not significantly lower than those in the controls (p>0.05). Furthermore, no significant inverse correlation was found between disease severity and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria patients (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The impact of vitamin D in these dermatoses seems to be overestimated and needs further study to prove any true association.