Good and Bad News for Vitamin D in African-Americans with Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Photoprotective measures by African-American CLE patients did not reduce vitamin D concentrations, but half of all African-Americans had deficient levels.

Patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are counseled to apply sunscreens and to avoid sun exposure as much as possible — recommendations that undeniably protect against disease flares. However, sun exposure promotes vitamin D synthesis, and previous findings show that CLE patients are prone to vitamin D deficiency, presumably related to photoprotective measures. Because little is known about vitamin D levels in African-American CLE patients, investigators compared the vitamin D status of 25 African-American CLE patients and 26 African-Americans without CLE, all Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI, with white or Latino individuals with and without CLE, skin types I–IV.

Mean vitamin D levels were equivalent in the African-American popul…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)