The relationship between severity of disease and vitamin D levels in children with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disorder. Vitamin D is a liposoluble vitamin synthesized mainly in the skin. Vitamin D has several effects on the skin.

To assess the serum level of vitamin D in children with AD and determine its relation to AD severity.

Sixty patients with AD were enrolled in the study. We evaluated disease severity using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The control group consisted of 37 healthy subjects.

The mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D₃ in patients with AD was not statistically different from control subjects (p = 0.065). The vitamin D level was significantly lower in moderate and severe AD compared with mild AD, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004). Vitamin D showed a negative correlation with serum total IgE levels (p = 0.007). There was no significant correlation between total IgE levels and SCORAD scores (p = 0.089).

This study suggests that a low serum vitamin D level is inversely associated with severity of AD in children. Vitamin D has not been included in the routine treatment of AD because of the conflicting results of various studies. Thus, there is a need for more detailed and prospective studies.