Perspectives In Medical Research (Apr 2018)
Study of serum Zinc levels in patients with vitiligo of north Telangana
Abstract
Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired,idiopathic depigmenting skin disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches, which affects approximately 0.1–2% of the general population worldwide. Zinc is an essential trace element that is necessary for growth and development at all stages of life. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and vitiligo. Aims : To measure the serum zinc levels in patients with vitiligo compared to healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: 35 patients with vitiligo and 35 healthy individual, who were visited various hospitals in Karimnagar, Telangana state taken as cases and controls respectively .The two groups were matched for age and sex. Commercially available Coral kit was used to measure serum zinc levels on CPC-semi auto analyser . The statistical analysis was performed using GRAPHPAD-6 software. Results: The mean serum level of zinc in vitiligo patients and controls was 35.54 ±11.10 µg/dl, 81.29 ±11.32 µg/dl respectively. The serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo was significantly lower than in healthy controls(p = <0.0001*). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a significant association between vitiligo and serum zinc levels.A relative decrease in the serum zinc levels in vitiligo patients can highlight the role of zinc in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.
