WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Shamil Al-Joburi and Haitham Badr Fathi*

ABSTRACT

Background: Melanocyte apoptosis associated with vitiligo has been related to an imbalance in the oxidantsantioxidantssystem. Melanogenesis depends upon zinc, as a cofactor in the antioxidant defense system. Publishedresearches reviewing the zinc level in vitiligo has yield inconsistent results. Aim: to calculate the variations inserum zinc levels between Vitiligo patients and healthy control individuals. To assess the link between zinc leveland Vitiligo severity. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted as case-controlled study to investigate 98Vitiligo patients and 50 healthy age-gender matched participants recruited from dermatology outpatient clinic atMosul General Hospital. Five ml blood was taken for estimating zinc level in both groups of the study. Results:The average age of vitiligo patients were 23.32±15.63 years, composed of 52% (n=51) females and 48% (n=47)males with a duration vary from 1 month to 21 years (mean & SD = 4.56±5.17 years). Serum zinc levels invitiligo and control group were 86.36± 12.05 mg/dl and 92.94±10.36 mg/dl respectively (p=0.001). The serumZinc level of vitiligio patients was significantly low in extreme age and female patient. In Vitiligo patients, resultsreveal Inversely significant relationship (r = -0.26, r2 = 0.06, P = 0.01) between the patient's age-serum zinc leveland between serum Zinc level-severity of vitiligio (r=-0.28, r2 = 0.08, P= 0.006). Conclusions: The study offer anew prof that low zinc level is a contributor in initiation and continuation of vitiligo. Zinc level is inversely linkedto extent and tensity of Vitiligo rather than its duration.