Mohan Arumugam
National University of Malaysia, Malaysia
Title: Sun exposure, and vitamin D in adult atopic dermatitis: a case-control study
Biography
Biography: Mohan Arumugam
Abstract
Introduction: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease. Lower levels of vitamin D have been associated with severity of atopic dermatitis. Results in previous studies have not been consistent. Factors affecting vitamin D status such as body mass index (BMI) and sun exposure were not always assessed.
Aim & Methodology: It is a case-control study with 38 cases and 38 matched controls to determine the relationship between vitamin D status and AD and the association between sun exposure and dietary intake with vitamin D status. Appropriate selection criteria, blood sampling and validated questionnaire for AD severity, (SCORAD) were used.
Results: 15 (39.5%) mild AD, 17 (44.7%) moderate and 6 (15.8%) severe AD. Serum Vitamin D levels did not correlate with AD severity. Serum Vitamin D was significantly lower in AD [15.9(9.9-24.0) ng/ml] than controls [17.3(14.4-27.2) ng/ml, p=0.028]. There was a statistically significant association between Vitamin D and case-controls. [χ2 (2)=20.041, p<0.001]. Vitamin D was sufficient in 16 (42.1%) AD; 15 (39.5%) controls, insufficient in 7 (18.4%) AD; 22 (57.9%) controls and deficient in 15 (39.5%) AD; 1 (2.6%) control. Sun exposure was similar in both groups. Cases had significantly higher dietary vitamin D intake [1.5(0.6-3.1) vs 0.6 (0.3-1.0) µg]. AD had higher odds for Vitamin D deficiency; OR 17.52 (95% CI: 1.4-212.7; p=0.025). There were statistically significant differences in sun exposure index and serum vitamin D between different ethnic groups and gender, in general.