Serum Zinc and Inflammatory Cytokines in Vitiligo.

BACKGROUND

The relation between zinc and the cytokines involved in vitiligo pathogenesis has not been studied well.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the serum levels of zinc in patients with vitiligo and to assess their relation to serum interleukins (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17. PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The study included 50 patients with active vitiligo and 100 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy volunteers as a control group. Serum zinc levels, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17 were evaluated in all participants.

RESULTS

The mean serum levels of zinc was significantly reduced in patients with vitiligo, while the serum levels of IL-17, IL-4, and IL-6 were significantly elevated in the vitiligo group when compared with the controls (P<0.001). The serum zinc levels showed significant negative correlation with serum IL-6, IL-4. and IL-17 levels (P< 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the serum levels of the three studied interleukins (P< 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Zinc supplementation could potentially be used as a beneficial treatment for vitiligo, but the required dosage needs to be studied further.