Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder. Vitamin D acts as an immunomodulator potentially relevant to pathogenesis. Since data from North India remains limited, this study aimed to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in AA patients compared to matched controls and evaluate correlations with disease severity. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study included 44 AA patients and 44 matched healthy controls. Disease severity was assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Serum 25(OH)D was measured using Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA). RESULTS: Median serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D was significantly lower in cases (17.10 ng/mL) versus controls (22.60 ng/mL; p = 0.015). Deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was observed in 54.55% of cases versus 38.64% of controls. Vitamin D deficiency increased the odds of AA by 3.22 times (OR: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.18-8.79; p = 0.022). Stratified analysis revealed a significant difference only among urban residents (p = 0.041). No significant correlation was found between Vitamin D levels and SALT scores (p = 0.442). CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with Alopecia Areata in this North Indian cohort, particularly among urban residents. Screening for deficiency may be a valuable addition to management.