CORRELATION OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS WITH HAIR LOSS IN ALOPECIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Al-Iraqia, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Hair loss, known medically as alopecia, is a prevalent dermatological issue affecting people globally, recent studies indicate a possible link between various biochemical indicators and the development or progression of this condition. Objective: This article aims to provide a comprehensive correlation of biochemical parameters with alopecia such as Hb. RBC, Zinc, Calcium, Iron, Ferritin, folic acid, and thyroid.  Materials and Methods: Between July and December 2023, a study was undertaken involving 183 patients diagnosed with alopecia areata (80 male and 103 female) while the healthy (control group) were 100 individuals. These patients were randomly selected from outpatient dermatology clinics. Serum samples were centrifuged at 2000 xg for 10 minutes to separate sera to analyze Serum Iron, ferritin, calcium, VitD, VitB12, folic acid, and TSH. Zinc. Results: the general hematological parameters comparison between alopecia patients and control groups does not show any significant correlation (Hb and RBC), however, there was an important correlation between male and female patients (females show lower levels than males), the biomarkers comparison shows a significant correlation with (p-value0.06) particularly in iron, ferritin, folic acid, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, B12, and thyroid. Females do not show a significant correlation between B12, zinc, and alopecia. Conclusions:  Hb and RBC do not correlate with alopecia.  Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Ferritin significantly correlate with alopecia in both genders.  Zinc, B12, folic acid, and TSH correlate with alopecia in males but not females.  Only Iron and Ferritin differ significantly between male and female alopecia patients.

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