European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Background: The actual a etiology of alopecia Areata is unknown, despite the fact that immunologic processes and hereditary factors are considered to play a role. Iron deficiency has been mentioned as a contributing cause, but its significance is questionable. Patients had higher mean blood iron and ferritin levels and lower mean TIBC levels than control individuals in our case control study, however the differences were not statistically significant.
Aim: To analyze the Trace Elements like Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin & Serum Zincin Alopecia areata and in controls.
Materials and Methods: The current study included 150 A.A patients (cases) and 150 controls who attended the Department of Dermatology at L.N. Medical College and Research Center and J.K Hospital in Bhopal, in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry. The levels of Iron, Ferritin and Zinc were determined using the colorimetric method.
Results: A total of 300(150 cases of AA +150 controls were included Iron, Ferritin & Zinc with mean+ SD are given in the Table no. 1. The two groups were comparable (P<0.0001), (P<0.0001).
Iron: Iron levels in controls is 100.44 ±32.94 μg/dl, Iron levels in AA is 33.147 ±11.88μg/dl. The difference in the values Serum Iron parameters in respect of these groups was highly statistically significant (P<0.0001*).
Ferritin: Ferritin levels in controls is 156.74±30.33 ng/dl, Ferritin levels in in Alopecia patients is 25.92 ±12.74 ng/dl. The difference in the values Serum Ferritin parameters in respect of these groups was highly statistically significant (P<0.0001*).
Zinc: Zinc levels in controls is 108.66 + 26.23 μg/dl, Zinc levels in Alopecia patients is 31.007 + 12.702 μg/dl. The difference in the values Serum Zinc parameters in respect of these groups was highly statistically significant (P<0.0001*).
Conclusion: The widespread effect of reduced iron storage on a variety of etiologically diverse types of hair loss is explained by a threshold theory. Understanding the function of iron in hair loss might lead to the development of new therapies and the production of hypotheses to better understand the biochemical basis of these disorders. Future AA tests should include ferritin levels as a component.