Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Eczema in Certain Populations

Eczema is more commonly found in white, non-Latino populations with low vitamin D levels than in other populations, according to a study recently published in Allergy.

Approximately 30 percent of the United States population grapples with dermatitis, or eczema, a chronic condition that can cause blisters on the skin and make it appear inflamed and cracked. Patients with eczema might also suffer from bacterial and fungal infections in the skin.

A group of researchers from Duke University looked at cross-sectional data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between the years of 2005 and 2006. They studied the relationship between vitamin D use and eczema using a wide range of factors including patient demographics, lifestyle variables, stress, and medical comorbidities.

Overall, eczema was reported in 7.4 percent of patients. They found that people who come from more affluent backgrounds, have a history of depression or asthma, are female, and are white (non-Latino) are more likely to have eczema. The analysis also determined that people who are vitamin D deficient (i.e. less than 50 nmol/L) were more likely to have eczema than those with higher levels (75 nmol/L). The researchers also write that “The spline analysis found an inverted U-shaped relationship between eczema and serum 25(OH)D level. Eczema risk reached the highest at around 45 nmol/L, with decreasing risk in both directions away from this value.”