Serum zinc levels in patients with alopecia areata: a case-control study

ABSTRACT

The etiology of alopecia areata is not clear, but a possible autoimmune cause has been suggested. Serum zinc levels in alopecia areata has been studied, but the reported results were discordant. The aim of this study was to measure the serum zinc levels of the patients with alopecia areata and to compare it with those of the control group. In this case-control study, 46 alopecia areata patients admitted to the skin clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences in Ahwaz and 33 sex and age matched individuals were studied. The serum zinc levels of both groups were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry and the results were compared. The mean +/- SD serum zinc level was 873 +/- 154.9 micg/l and in alopecia areata patients 831.8 +/- 155.8 micg/l in control group[P>0.05]. No difference was observed between the serum zinc levels of patients with alopecia areata and controls. More studies for evaluation of a possible relationship between serum zinc levels and alopecia areata is recommended