Serum vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism in patients with vitiligo

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine serum vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels as well as MTHFR (C677, A1298C) gene polymorphism in patients with vitiligo, to understand their possible roles in the disease etiology and to compare the results with the healthy controls.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients aged between 10-56, who applied to Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Celal Bayar University Hospital and were diagnosed as vitiligo clinically and by wood lamp inspection were included in our study. Forty age and sex matched healthy subjects were also included as the control group. Patients and subjects were informed about the study and consent forms were obtained. Serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were studied in peripheral venous blood samples. MTHFR gene polymorphism was studied by PCR. Statistical analyses were made by SPSS 16.0 program.RESULTS: 23 (57,5 %) of the 40 vitiligo patients were female, 17 (42,5 %) were male. Ages varied from 10 to 56 and the mean value was 27,77 ± 13,44. Twenty-two (55 %) of the 40 control subjects were female and 18 (45 %) were male. Ages in the control group varied from 20 to 41 and the mean value was 25,42 ± 4,48. Vitiligo group and control group were similar in terms of age and sex. The onset age of the disease in vitiligo patients was between 2 and 56. The mean onset age was 19,60 ± 13,39. Thirty-three (82,5 %) of the 40 patients had a negative, while 7 (17,5 %) had a positive family history of vitiligo. There was no significant relationship between the age of disease onset and family history. Clinically 4 (10 %) of the 40 vitiligo patients were focal, 1 (2,5 %) was segmental, 8 (20 %) were acrofacial and 27 (67,5 %) were generalized. 5 (12,5 %) of the patients had active disease while 6 (15,5 %) were in regression and 29 (72,5 %) were stable. There was no significant difference in disease activity considering different clinical manifestations.Mean serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine values were not significantly different between groups while folic acid levels were significantly lower in the control group (p=0,042) There was no significant relationship between disease activity and vitamin B12 and homocystein levels. Low folic acid levels were statistically related with disease regression (p=0,012). In both of the groups folic acid levels were lower (p=0,024) in males while homocysteine levels were statistically higher (p=0,003). There was no significant difference in vitamin B12 levels between male and female patients.There was no significant difference between the patients and the control group considering C677T gene polymorphism. Heterozygot A1298C gene polymorphism in the patient group was statistically higher than the control group (p= 0,007). There was no significant relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphism and vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels in the patient and the control groups.CONCLUSIONS and SUGGESTIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating MTHFR gene polymorphism in vitiligo. According to our findings, heterozygote A1298C genotype was significantly higher in vitiligo patients. Because of the small number of subjects involved in our study, new studies involving larger groups should be made to verify our results in MTHFR gene polymorphism in vitiligo patients.