Does vitamin D deficiency increase disease severity in atopic dermatitis?

Objective: Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory, pruritic skin disease of childhood. Role of vitamin D due to its immunomodulatory effects on the pathogenesis of the disease is being discussed recently. In our study, we planned to investigate the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and presence and severity of atopic dermatitis.& para;& para;Methods: Sixty-two patients under the age of five, admitted to Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital Pediatrics Allergy outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis were included in the study. Control group consisted of thirty healthy children admitted to our outpatient clinic of children's health. Eosinophil counts, total IgE and specific IgE levels of the patients with atopic dermatitis were recorded from their patient files. Disease severity was evaluated using SCORAD index. Patients with SCORAD index scores of <25, 25-50, and >50 points were classified in mild, moderate and severe disease groups. Vitamin 25(OH)D levels of >= 30, 21-29, and <= 20 ng/ml were accepted as sufficient, inadequate and deficient vitamin levels. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant.& para;& para;Results: There were no significant differences in age and sex between cases with atopic dermatitis, and the control group. In %22.6 (n=14) of the atopic dermatitis patients and %3 (n=10) of the control group vitamin D deficiency was detected. Mean 25(OH)D vitamin levels of the patients with low and moderate SCORAD index scores were 39. 17 +/--18.49 and 25.07 +/- 13.74 points, respectively, without any statistically significant between both groups (p=0.059).& para;& para;Conclusion: In our study, we found no correlations between vitamin D levels and development of atopic dermatitis or disease severity.