Vitamin D Deficiency and Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional study of Iranian Population in Yazd Province

Objective: Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease of the skin and the joints. Psoriatic patients sometimes suffer from vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcemia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of calcium and vitamin D in patients with psoriasis. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study, ۱۱۰ cases of psoriasis that were referred to Shohadaye Mehrab clinic during ۲۰۱۵ and ۱۱۰ non-psoriatic patients enrolled. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALK) and ۲۵- hydroxy vitamin D۳ [(۲۵OH) D۳] were measured in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version ۱۹. Chi square test and T-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among۱۱۰ patients with psoriasis ۷۴ (۶۷.۳%) were men and ۳۶ (۳۲.۷۵%) were women. There was no significant difference in the serum level of calcium (P-value: ۰.۵۶۳), phosphorus (P-value: ۰.۳۸۱), PTH (P-value: ۰.۳۶۴) and ALK (P-value: ۰.۶۳۹) between two groups. Vitamin D deficiency was found in ۶۴.۵% of psoriatic patients and ۶۰% of the controls (P-value= ۰.۴۵); However ۳۰.۹% of psoriatic and ۱۷.۳% of the controls suffered from severe hypovitaminosis D. This difference was statistically significant (P-value= ۰.۰۱۴). Conclusion: We found a significant relationship between severe hypovitaminosis D and psoriasis. This finding revealed the need for evaluation of psoriatic patients for the presence of vitamin D deficiency.