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Serum Vitamin Profiles in Pediatric Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, and Urticaria
Gaolei Zhang1, Mengting Su1, Xiao Liu1
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Capital Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.
Insights
Pediatric inflammatory skin diseases like eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria are linked to vitamin B9 insufficiency. This study found lower vitamin B9 and B6 levels in children with these conditions compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Nutritional Science
- Immunology
Background:
- Eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria are prevalent pediatric inflammatory skin conditions.
- Serum vitamin profiles in these pediatric diseases are not well-understood.
- Characterizing vitamin status is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vitamin levels and insufficiency rates in children with eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria against healthy controls.
- To identify demographic factors and specific vitamin deficiencies associated with these skin diseases.
- To explore potential biomarkers for pediatric inflammatory skin conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 504 children (43 eczema, 43 atopic dermatitis, 40 urticaria, 378 controls).
- Serum levels of nine vitamins measured using electrochemical assays.
- Statistical analyses included logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM).
Main Results:
- Vitamin B9 insufficiency was significantly more common in the overall disease group (17.5%) versus controls (0.3%).
- Vitamin D insufficiency was higher in the urticaria group (42.5%) compared to controls (28.3%).
- Vitamin B9 insufficiency and lower vitamin B6 levels were independently associated with all three studied diseases after PSM.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric inflammatory skin diseases present distinct serum vitamin profiles compared to healthy children.
- Vitamin B9 insufficiency is a common finding across eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing vitamin status in pediatric dermatological patients.
Abstract:
Background: Eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria are common pediatric inflammatory skin diseases, but serum vitamin profiles across these diseases remain poorly characterized. Objectives: To compare demographic characteristics, serum vitamin levels, and vitamin insufficiency rates among children with these diseases, and to identify independent factors associated with disease presence. Methods: This retrospective study included 504 children: 43 with eczema, 43 with atopic dermatitis, 40 with urticaria, and 378 healthy controls. Serum levels of nine vitamins were measured by electrochemical assays. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors with false discovery rate correction. Propensity score matching based on age and sex was additionally performed for each disease-control comparison, followed by matched regression analyses. An exploratory nomogram was developed and evaluated. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 6.26 years, and 50.2% were male. Vitamin B9 insufficiency was the most prominent abnormality, occurring more frequently in the overall disease group than in controls (17.5% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001). Vitamin D insufficiency appeared more frequently in the urticaria group than in controls (42.5% vs. 28.3%, p = 0.062). In multivariable analyses after PSM, vitamin B9 insufficiency and lower vitamin B6 levels remained independently associated with all three diseases. Conclusions: Pediatric inflammatory skin diseases exhibited distinct vitamin profiles relative to healthy controls, with vitamin B9 insufficiency emerging as a common feature across eczema, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria.
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