Evaluation of Copper and Zinc Disturbances in the Patients of Alopecia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate serum copper and zinc levels in patients with different types of alopecia compared to healthy controls, and to assess the potential relationship between trace element deficiencies and specific alopecia types. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from 1 June 2021 to 30 April 2023. Materials and Methods: A total of 250 patients categorized into five groups; Group-1 male pattern hair loss, Group-2 female pattern hair loss, Group-3 alopecia areata, Group-4 telogen effluvium, and Group 5 healthy individuals were enrolled. Serum zinc and copper levels were tested by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and results were compared with the help of SPSS by applying one-way ANOVA and post hoc test. The p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In Group-3, the mean serum copper was 15.14±3.26 followed by Group-4 (14.99±2.23), Group-2 (14.11±3.83), Group-1 (9.92±2.23), and the control group was 14.97±3.6. As in Group-2, the mean serum zinc was 12.93±2.97 followed by Group-4 (11.13±3.50), Group-3 (10.23±2.91), and Group-1 (8.70±2.08), and the control group was 14.01±1.82. Serum zinc had a statistically significant difference (p value ≤0.05) between all groups of alopecia. Whereas statistically significant low copper levels were observed only in male pattern hair loss with p value ≤0.001. Conclusion: Low zinc levels are related to all types of alopecia. Whereas low copper levels are observed only in male pattern alopecia. Hence zinc supplementation can be used to get some beneficial effects in all types of alopecia. Whereas patients with male pattern alopecia should also be evaluated for serum copper levels and supplementation is required only if they have low copper levels.

Keywords

• alopecia
• serum copper
• serum zinc
• trace element.