Abstract
Background and Objectives: It is assumed that imbalance of trace elements may trigger the onset of alopecia. The aim of this research was to assess the level of zinc and copper contents in the scalp hair and level of lipid peroxidation enzymes in serum of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata patients.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Department of Dermatology, Sina Hospital and Department of Biochemistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The study population consists of 27 patients with alopecia areata and 27 patients with androgenetic alopecia. Moreover, 27 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included. The level of zinc and copper contents in the scalp hair and serum and level of lipid peroxidation enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata patients and healthy control subjects were measured.
Results: The mean hair zinc level in alopecia areata patients, androgenetic alopecia patients and controls were 98.33, 105.35 and 129.52µg/dL, respectively. The mean level of hair copper level in the study and control groups were 7.91, 7.25 and 10.34µg/dL, respectively. The mean serum level of SOD, MDA and GPX in the study and control groups were (1945.25, 1761.57 and 2296.77µg/dL), (3.64, 3.49 and 1.62µg/dL) and (129.11, 118.84 and 138.74µg/dL), respectively. The zinc and copper contents of the hair and serum were significantly lower among the alopecia patients compared to the controls (P<0.05). The serum level of SOD and GPX was significantly lower and level of MDA was higher among the patients with alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia compared to the controls (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Low levels of zinc and copper in the hair and serum and low SOD and GPX along with high level of MDA in the serum may play a role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia.