The Role of Micronutrients and Thyroid Function Tests in Pediatric Hair Loss

Abstract

Objective: Hair loss is a common complaint among pediatric patients. This study aims to evaluate the potential associations between serum concentrations of ferritin, hemoglobin, iron, folate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), zinc, and vitamin B12 in pediatric patients presenting with diffuse, non-scarring alopecia. Materials and Methods: In this study, 75 children aged between 6 and 18 years who presented to the pediatric outpatient clinic with diffuse, non-scarring hair loss were included, along with 75 age and sex matched healthy children without hair loss who presented for routine check-ups as the control group. Children with a history of systemic disease, medication use, or dietary supplement use were excluded from both groups. The serum levels of the relevant parameters were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: Children with hair loss had lower mean levels of zinc, folate, iron, vitamin B12, and TSH compared to the control group; however, only the decreases in zinc and folate levels were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). Furthermore, when compared in terms of micronutrient deficiencies, only the folate level was significantly lower in the group with hair loss (p=0.016). Conclusions: Our study is one of the first to suggest a potential role of folate deficiency in pediatric hair loss. In addition, micronutrient deficiencies were common in both groups. Therefore, we recommend that serum micronutrient levels, including folate, be assessed in children presenting with hair loss.

Keywords

• Alopecia
• child
• folate
• hair loss
• micronutrient

Çocuklarda Saç Dökülmesinde Mikrobesinlerin ve Tiroid Fonksiyon Testlerinin Rolü

Abstract

Amaç: Saç dökülmesi, çocuk hastalarda sık karşılaşılan bir yakınmadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, diffüz, skar bırakmayan saç dökülmesi olan çocuklarda serum ferritin, hemoglobin, demir konsantrasyonu, 25-hidroksivitamin D, folat, Tiroid sitümülan hormon (TSH), serbest tiroksin, çinko, ve B12 vitamini düzeylerinin rolünü araştırmaktır. Materyal ve Metot: Bu çalışmada çocuk polikliniğine diffüz, skar bırakmayan saç dökülmesi ile başvuran 6-18 yaş arasında 75 çocuk ile cinsiyet ve yaş olarak eşleştirilmiş rutin tetkik için başvuran ve saç dökülmesi olmayan 75 sağlıklı çocuk (kontrol grubu) incelendi. İki grupta da kronik hastalığı olan ve herhangi bir takviye kullanımı olan hastalar çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Her iki grubun kan değerleri istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Saç dökülmesi olan çocuklarda çinko, folat, demir, vitamin B12 ve TSH düzeylerinin ortalama değerlerinin kontrol grubuna göre daha düşük olduğu saptandı; ancak istatistiksel olarak yalnızca çinko ve folat düzeylerindeki düşüklük anlamlı bulundu (p<0,001). Ayrıca, mikrobesin eksiklikleri açısından karşılaştırıldığında saç dökülmesi olan grupta yalnızca folat düzeyinde anlamlı düşüklük saptandı (p=0,016). Sonuç: Çalışmamız çocuklarda saç dökülmesinde folat eksikliğinin rol oynayabileceğini gösteren ilk çalışmalardan biri olması nedeniyle önemlidir. Ayrıca her iki grupta da mikrobesin eksiklikleri sık görülmüştür. Bu nedenle saç dökülmesi ile başvuran çocuklardan folat düzeyi de dahil olmak üzere serum mikrobesin düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesini öneriyoruz.

Keywords

• Alopesi
• çocuk
• folat
• saç dökülmesi
• mikrobesin

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