Correlation of Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D and Interleukin-17 Levels with Disease Severity in Acne Vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

The association of Vitamin D (vit.D) and Interleukin 17 (IL-17) with acne vulgaris is uncertain in spite of induction of IL-17 by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and the role of vit.D in various inflammatory skin disorders including acne. The objectives of present study were to evaluate the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] and IL-17 in acne patients and age- and sex-matched controls and to compare them with the severity of acne as measured by Global Acne Grading System (GAGS).

METHODS

The study included 50 patients of acne and 30 healthy controls. Serum 25(OH) D and IL-17 levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

RESULTS

Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 28% of patients with acne but only in 6.7% of the healthy controls (P value 0.022). The levels of 25(OH)D were inversely associated with the severity of acne (P < 0.001). The mean serum IL-17 levels were significantly raised (P < 0.001) in acne patients (8.215 ± 5.33 pg/mL) as compared to controls (2.486 ± 2.12 pg/mL). A significant rise in levels of IL-17 was observed with the severity of acne (P < 0.001). Further, a highly significant negative correlation (Correlation Coefficient: -0.668) was noted between serum IL-17 and 25(OH) D levels along with disease severity in acne patients (P value < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Raised IL-17 levels in acne correlate negatively with vit.D deficiency and both are significantly more prevalent in patients with acne as compared to healthy controls.