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Serum levels of folate, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 and cobalamin during UVB phototherapy: findings in a large prospective trial
Author(s) -
Weber B.,
Marculescu R.,
Radakovic S.,
Tanew A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/jdv.15941
Subject(s) - cobalamin , medicine , vitamin d and neurology , prospective cohort study , endocrinology , gastroenterology , vitamin b12
Background Narrowband UVB phototherapy ( NB ‐ UVB ) is a mainstay in the treatment of numerous inflammatory dermatoses. Whereas, a wealth of studies has shown that NB ‐ UVB treatment increases 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25( OH )D) levels, only sparse and controversial data exist on its effect on serum folate and cobalamin. Objectives To determine whether exposure to NB ‐ UVB alters serum folate or cobalamin levels. Methods A single‐centre, prospective, open observational study on 101 patients subjected to NB ‐ UVB phototherapy between late fall and early spring. Serum folate, 25( OH )D and cobalamin levels were measured after 0, 12, 24 and 36 NB ‐ UVB exposures. Results After 12 NB ‐ UVB exposures a significant decrease of mean serum folate (−1.0 nmol/L; P = 0.03) and cobalamin (−14.5 pmol/L, P = 0.03) levels was observed whereas serum levels of 25( OH )D showed a significant increase (35.4 nmol/L, P < 0.0001). Conclusions A standard course of NB ‐ UVB induces a small but significant decrease of serum folate and cobalamin levels.