Relationship between Vitamin D Status and Striae Distensae: A Case-Referent Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Endocrinology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Vitamin D (VD) is crucial for skin health and regulation.
• Striae Distensae (SD), or stretch marks, result from epidermal atrophy due to tissue stretching.
• The relationship between VD levels and SD post-mammaplasty requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between serum Vitamin D levels and the incidence of Striae Distensae in women following silicone implant mammaplasty.
• To determine if low Vitamin D is a risk factor for developing SD after this surgical procedure.

Main Methods:

• A case-referent study design was employed.
• Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured pre-surgery in 67 women with post-mammaplasty SD (cases) and 268 controls without SD.
• Statistical analysis compared 25OHD levels between groups and assessed the odds of SD with low VD.

Main Results:

• Mean 25OHD levels were significantly lower in the SD group (20 ng/mL) compared to the control group (27 ng/mL) (P = 0.01).
• Vitamin D deficiency (values < 20 ng/mL) was more prevalent in cases (56.71%) than controls (39.91%) (P = 0.002).
• Women with SD had 2.38 times higher odds of having VD levels below 20 ng/mL (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Lower serum Vitamin D levels are significantly associated with an increased occurrence of Striae Distensae after mammaplasty with silicone implants.
• These findings suggest Vitamin D status may play a role in the development of SD in this patient population.
• Further research could explore VD supplementation as a potential preventative strategy for SD.