Vitamin D and Vitamin A co deficiency may aggravate Atopic dermatitis in children

CHINA: Deficiency of vitamin D and vitamin A may worsen atopic dermatitis (AD) or eczema symptoms in children -- is the finding of a new study.

The findings, published in the journal Dermatology, necessitates the need for studies evaluating the use of vitamin D and vitamin A for the treatment of eczema.

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema is a chronic condition of the skin characterized by itchy and red skin. It's common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic Dermatitis is long-lasting and tends to flare periodically. It may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever.

Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin has a known role in bone health, with growing evidence for beneficial effects on muscle strength and other non-skeletal outcomes. Sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, and foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals.

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for healthy vision, teeth, skeletal tissue, and skin. Its sources include carrot, cod liver oil, spinach, broccoli, and sweet potato.

Several previous studies have suggested the association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and eczema. However, not much is known about the relationship between vitamin A and AD, and also the interaction between VA and VD on eczema also requires further study.

Xiang J, Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China, and colleagues detected serum levels of VA and VD in children with AD to explore how VA deficiency (VAD) and VDD affect AD severity.

For the purpose, they assessed the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, total immunoglobin E levels and peripheral blood eosinophil counts. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the levels of VA and VD.

Key findings of the study include:

• The vitamin D and vitamin A levels were significantly lower in children with AD than in normal children.


• Both VD and VA levels were negatively correlated with SCORAD scores.


• The SCORAD scores were significantly higher in AD patients with both VDD and VAD (co-deficiency) than in other AD patients.


• Significant inverse correlations were observed between peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum VA and VD levels.

"Vitamin D and vitamin A co-deficiency may exacerbate eczema symptoms in children, but the specific mechanism underlying this relationship requires further study. These findings may indicate the need for studies evaluating the use of Vitamin D and vitamin A as potential treatments for AD patients," concluded the authors.

For detailed study log on to https://doi.org/10.1159/000496603