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Vitiligo and Vitamin D deficiency
Identifier
010133
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Better to get your vitamin D from sunshine and foods - follow the link below to see which foods contain Vitamin D
A description of the experience
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2013 Nov-Dec;79(6):750-8. Doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.120720 The role of vitamin D in melanogenesis with an emphasis on vitiligo. AlGhamdi K1, Kumar A, Moussa N. Department of Dermatology; Vitiligo Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder caused by the destruction of functional melanocytes. Vitamin D is an essential hormone synthesized in the skin and is responsible for skin pigmentation. Low levels of vitamin D have been observed in vitiligo patients and in patients with other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the relationship between vitamin D and vitiligo needs to be investigated more thoroughly.
We reviewed the literature to date regarding the role of vitamin D in skin pigmentation. Our review revealed that vitamin D deficiency has been identified in many conditions, including premature and dysmature birth, pigmented skin, obesity, advanced age, and malabsorption.
Vitamin D increases melanogenesis and the tyrosinase content of cultured human melanocytes by its antiapoptotic effect. However, a few growth-inhibitory effects on melanocytes were also reported. Vitamin D regulates calcium and bone metabolism, controls cell proliferation and differentiation, and exerts immunoregulatory activities. Vitamin D exerts its effect via a nuclear hormone receptor for vitamin D.
The topical application of vitamin D yields significant results when used in combination with phototherapy and ultraviolet exposure to treat vitiligo in humans. Vitamin D decreases the expression of various cytokines that cause vitiligo. In conclusion, application of vitamin D might help in preventing destruction of melanocytes thus causing vitiligo and other autoimmune disorders. The association between low vitamin D levels and the occurrence of vitiligo and other forms of autoimmunity is to be further evaluated.
PMID: 24177606
The source of the experience
Other ill or disabled personConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Autoimmune diseasesObesity
Skin diseases
Suppressions
Being naked in the sunPremature birth
Vitamin D