Serum Vitamin D3 Levels and Diffuse Hair Fall among the Student Population in South India: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction and aims: Hair fall is a common problem faced by many younger people, which has variety of risk factors. Vitamin D₃ has emerged as a molecule with key role to play in various disorders. This study was done to assess its role in diffuse hair fall among student population.

Materials and methods: This was a case-control study including young adults presenting with complaints of hair fall (>100 a day) as cases, with age-matched healthy controls. Vitamin D₃ levels were measured in all the patients. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 11.5 software and significance was tested using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis.

Results: Atotal of 44 participants were enrolled; 22 in each arm. The mean age of the study population was 20.89 years (standard deviation: 1.49). The median value of Vitamin D was 6.80 (interquartile range - 5.350-16.63) for the study population. Overall, 81.8% cases had Vitamin D deficiency compared to 45.5% of controls and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.007). Furthermore, females had a statistically significant difference in Vitamin D levels between cases and controls. Higher level of full sleeve cloth usage, sunscreen lotion application, and lesser sun exposures were seen among cases although these differences were not statistically significant. The levels of Vitamin D₃ were not significantly different among Indians, nonresident Indians, and foreigners. None of the cases had normal Vitamin D values whereas 4.5% controls fell in the normal category.

Conclusions: Female patients with diffuse hair fall were found to have significantly low Vitamin D₃ levels among student population.

Keywords: Alopecia; Vitamin D3; hair fall.