To what Extent does Vitamin D and its Serum Levels Influence the Severity of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Literature Review

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 104; p. adv40321
• Main Authors: Lackner, Lea, Zyriax, Birgit-Christiane, Stephan, Brigitte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden MJS Publishing, on behalf of the Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica 10.09.2024; Medical Journals Sweden
• Subjects: acne inversa; Biomarkers - blood; diet therapy; Dietary Supplements; hidradenitis suppurativa; Hidradenitis Suppurativa - blood; Hidradenitis Suppurativa - diagnosis; Hidradenitis Suppurativa - drug therapy; Humans; Male; Original Report; Severity of Illness Index; vitamin D; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - diagnosis; Vitamin D Deficiency - drug therapy; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0001-5555; 1651-2057; 1651-2057
• DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.40321

Vitamin D plays a role in inflammatory skin conditions and can improve them. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an autoinflammatory chronic skin disease in which most patients exhibit a hypovitaminosis D. However, it is uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation could relieve the severity of HS. A systematic literature search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted on 4 September 2023. Studies that investigated vitamin D and its potential implications for the severity of HS were included. In contrast, studies that focused on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency were excluded, as well as studies on syndromic HS. Seven studies with a total of 575 patients were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which 3 utilized a cross-sectional design, 2 were pilot studies, 1 a controlled cohort study, and 1 a prospective case-control study. In all included studies, HS patients were vitamin D deficient. There was evidence indicating that serum vitamin D levels negatively correlated with the severity of the disease, and at least suggestive evidence that vitamin D supplementation could have a positive impact on the course of HS. To better understand these correlations, conducting a randomized controlled trial study on vitamin D and its effects on HS severity is imperative.