Association between the serum level of vitamin D and systemic sclerosis in a Chinese population: a case control study

Aim Several autoimmune diseases have been associated with reduced vitamin D levels. However, the serum level of vitamin D in Chinese systemic sclerosis ( SS c) patients have not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D in Chinese SS c patients and analyze the association between vitamin D and SS c. Methods 25‐hydroxy vitamin D 125 I RIA kit was applied to evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D in 60 SS c patients and 60 healthy controls from Anhui Provincial Hospital, China. The data of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of SS c patients were also collected. Results The serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in SS c patients than that in healthy controls (26.51 ± 6.27 vs . 36.29 ± 14.24 ng/ mL , P < 0.001). The ratio of pulmonary involvement in vitamin D insufficiency patients was higher than that in normal vitamin D patients, but the difference missed statistical significance. The differences in other aspects were not statistically significant in the two groups. Conclusion Serum levels of vitamin D in patients with SS c were lower than that in healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine whether vitamin D supplement could provide some positive effects.