Serum Concentration of Vitamin D in Patients with Vulgar Psoriasis
1,2 Marina Vekić Mužević
1 Tatjana Matijević
3,4 Irina Bagić
3,4 Vjenceslav Vrtarić
5,6 Elvira Lazić Mosler
1 Institute of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
2 Department of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenereology, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
3 Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
4 School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
5 Division of Dermatovenereology, General Hospital Dr. Ivo Pedišić, Sisak, Croatia
6 School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory systematic disease that primarily affects the skin. Various factors influence the disease outcome and severity, among which the influence of vitamin D serum levels could potentially be important for disease pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
Aim: To analyze vitamin D serum levels in patients with psoriasis in comparison to healthy individuals, together with markers of inflammation and disease severity.
Methods: The study included patients with psoriasis that formed the case group, while the control group consisted of healthy individuals. The investigated features were demographical data, body mass index (BMI), disease severity, vitamin D serum levels, inflammatory markers, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.
Results: The study included 112 participants, 60 in the case group and 52 in the control group with the median age of 49 years. Physical activity was higher in the control group, while the body mass and the BMI were higher in the case group. Participants’ BMI negatively correlated to vitamin D serum levels, as well as C-reactive protein values in the control group and PTH in the case group. There was no significant difference in nicotine and alcohol consumption, sun exposure or vitamin D levels between the two groups.
Conclusion: Both groups presented with vitamin D serum levels in the deficiency range. The seasons of the year and the participants’ BMI affected vitamin D status. Vitamin D levels were equally distributed between the groups without influence on disease severity.
Keywords: psoriasis, vitamin D, body mass index, parathyroid hormone, C-reactive protein