Serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in psoriatic patients in a tertiary care hospital - A case control study

Background: Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and synthesized by skin from 7-dehydroxy cholesterol during exposure to UV-B. Vitamin D is essential for calcium homeostasis, bone growth and immune regulation. Vitamin D deficiency causes Rickets, Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis and Muscle weakness. Vitamin D deficiency associated with Cancers, Cardiovascular diseases, Schizophrenia, Wheezing illness and autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythromatosus, Rhuematoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, Psoriasis, Vitiligo and Chronic Urticaria. Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze the 25-hydroxy vitamin D status of patients with psoriasis in comparison with control subjects without psoriasis. Material and methods: This study included 30 patients (age and sex matched control subjects) from the outpatient department of Narayana Hospital dermatology department in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. All patients and control subjects were studied during 4 months period from July to October, 2015. Results: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were significantly lower in psoriatic patients than in control subjects even after adjusting for confounding factors in a multivariate analysis. Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were positively associated with psoriasis and body mass index in multiple linear regression analysis. Psoriatic patients with body mass index greater than or equal to 27 kg/m2 had a higher risk of 25-hydroxy vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusion: The 25-hydroxy vitamin D values are significantly lower in psoriatic patients than in control subjects. Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels are positively associated with psoriasis and with obesity.