Ann Dermatol.  2009 May;21(2):142-146. 10.5021/ad.2009.21.2.142.

The Therapeutic Effect and the Changed Serum Zinc Level after Zinc Supplementation in Alopecia Areata Patients Who Had a Low Serum Zinc Level

• Park H
• Kim CW
• Kim SS
• Park CW

• KMID: 2219382
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2009.21.2.142

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that some alopecia areata patients have zinc deficiency. There have also been several reports published concerning oral zinc sulfate therapy, with encouraging results, in some alopecia areata patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of oral zinc supplementation for twelve weeks in alopecia areata patients who had a low serum zinc level.
METHODS
Oral zinc gluconate (50 mg/T/day) supplementation was given to alopecia areata patients without any other treatment for twelve weeks. The serum zinc level was measured before and after zinc supplementation. A four- point scale of hair regrowth was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of oral zinc supplementation in these patients.
RESULTS
Fifteen alopecia areata patients were enrolled in this study. After the therapy, the serum zinc levels increased significantly from 56.9 microg/ to 84.5 microg/dl. Positive therapeutic effects were observed for 9 out of 15 patients (66.7%) although this was not statistically significant. The serum zinc levels of the positive response group increased more than those of the negative response group (p=0.003).
CONCLUSION
Zinc supplementation needs to be given to the alopecia areata patients who have a low serum zinc level. We suggest that zinc supplementation could become an adjuvant therapy for the alopecia areata patients with a low serum zinc level and for whom the traditional therapeutic methods have been unsuccessful.

Keyword

Alopecia areata; Serum zinc level; Zinc supplementation

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Alopecia Areata
Gluconates
Hair
Humans
Zinc
Zinc Sulfate
Gluconates
Zinc
Zinc Sulfate

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Pre-treatment. Relatively well defined 3×5 cm-sized and 4×6 cm-sized oval shaped hair loss patches (No.15). (B) Post-treatment. We recognized terminal hair growth from the hair loss patches. (C) The patient showed marked recovery after 12 weeks.

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