Serum Vitamin D Level in Female Pattern Hair Loss Patients and Relationship with Androgen
Objective To explore the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and androgen levels in female pattern hair loss(FPHL),and to provide new clues for the pathogenesis and treatment of FPHL.Methods We analyzed serum vitamin D levels in 70 patients with female pattern alopecia and 65 healthy subjects recruited from hospital and physical examination center.We also analyzed the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and disease severity,demographic characteristics,lifestyle habits,and androgens.Results The mean levels of serum vitamin D significantly decreased in FPHL,compared to those healthy controls[(13.59±5.82)ng/ml vs(15.94±6.89)ng/ml].There was a positive correlation between vitamin D and sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG)(P<0.05),and a negative correlation between vitamin D and free testosterone(P<0.05).Serum vitamin D levels was significantly lower in those patients with decrease SHBG or elevated free testosterone.However,no correlation was found between vitamin D level and severity,demographic characteristics,and lifestyle in FPHL.Conclusion The vitamin D level of FPHL is significantly lower than that of healthy people,suggesting that the decrease of vitamin D may be one of the pathogenesis factors of FPHL.The correlation between SHBG,free testosterone and vitamin D may be the reason of the vitamin D deficiency in FPHL,which needs more studies to verify.Serum vitamin D,SHBG and free testosterone should be monitored more actively in FPHL patients.