Serum brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and vitamin D: Two concordant players controlling depression among alopecia areata and vitiligo patients: A case–control study

• Published in: Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2023-08, Vol.22 (8), p.2343-2351
• Main Authors: Dawoud, N. M., Rajab, A. Z., El‐Hefnawy, S. M., El‐Bayoumy, A. M., Salem, A. M., Seleit, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acne; Age; Alopecia; alopecia areata; Anxiety; Apoptosis; Autoimmune diseases; Baldness; Brain research; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; depression; Dermatology; Disease; Family medical history; Females; Hair loss; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Pathogenesis; Pathophysiology; Patients; Quality of life; Skin; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency; Vitiligo
• ISSN: 1473-2130; 1473-2165
• DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15725

Background Depression is a common psychiatric comorbidity among chronic dermatology patients. There is extreme lacking in the research studying biomarkers responsible for it. Both brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vitamin D have a significant role in the development of depression. Aim To assess BDNF and vitamin D serum levels in different clinical verities of alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo patients, correlating them with depression prevalence and quality of life. Methods In all, 30 AA patients, 30 vitiligo patients, and 30 healthy volunteers were included. Both alopecia and vitiligo severity and activity were evaluated using the suitable clinical scores. Depression was assessed using Beck depression inventory (BDI) scale and quality of life was recorded using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Both serum BDNF and vitamin D levels were investigated using ELISA. Results In both alopecia and vitiligo patients, serum BDNF and serum vitamin D were significantly lower compared to controls (p = 0.001 for both). Both were associated and negatively correlated with BDI and DLQI. Regarding alopecia, they showed a significant decline in more sever disease and with longer disease duration. However, in vitiligo, BDNF (p = 0.001) and vitamin D (p = 0.03) correlated negatively with disease activity, but not with disease severity. Serum BDNF and vitamin D correlated positively with each other (p = 0.001) in both AA and vitiligo cases. Conclusion The inverse association of both serum BDNF and vitamin D with depression, and the positive correlation noted between their serum levels, may indicate a potential combined effect of these two players on development of depression and its negative health‐related outcomes.