The influence of trace elements on vitiligo has been extensively researched by domestic and foreign scholars for many years, and the results of basic and clinical studies show that some trace elements are abnormal in the organism of vitiligo patients and are related to the pathogenesis. The main trace elements related to the following: (1) copper: most studies show that the serum copper content of vitiligo patients decreased, such as the determination of serum copper oxidase in 141 cases of vitiligo patients by chemical colorimetric method, found that the activity of serum copper oxidase in some patients with common vitiligo decreased significantly, copper/zinc ratio imbalance and the length of the disease of vitiligo patients, the longer the disease duration of copper content increased, zinc content The copper/zinc ratio increased with the prolonged duration of the disease.
(2) Zinc: Zinc has a wide range of biological effects in living organisms, nearly 100 kinds of enzymes in the body contain zinc, zinc is also directly involved in intracellular biochemical processes, zinc deficiency will certainly affect the physiological activities of cells, appearing abnormalities in cell morphology and function. In 236 cases of vitiligo patients, it was found that the hair zinc content of vitiligo patients with generalized or disseminated skin decreased significantly, while the hair zinc content of vitiligo patients with limited lesions or segmental distribution did not decrease significantly and did not differ from normal controls, but the hair zinc content was related to the length of their disease, and the longer the disease duration the lower the hair zinc content. Most of the research results show that the zinc content in vitiligo patients’ organism is lower than normal people.
(3) Selenium: selenium usually exists in the form of selenocysteine in glutathione peroxidase, this enzyme can prevent lipid peroxidation damage to cell membranes, with the role of scavenging free radicals and protecting cell membranes. The activity of glutathione peroxidase is positively correlated with the selenium content in the body. Low selenium content can lead to a decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase, causing the accumulation of free radicals and producing damaging effects on melanocytes. The selenium content in the serum and skin lesions of vitiligo patients are significantly decreased, indicating that their bodies are in a state of selenium deficiency.
(4) Cobalt: Cobalt is mainly involved in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, has a detoxifying effect and promotes the absorption of other biological elements, often in the form of vitamin B12, is one of the essential trace elements. If the cobalt content of the body decreases, the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins and the absorption of other biological elements are inhibited, which can directly or indirectly affect the function of melanocytes and melanin synthesis. Several studies have shown that some vitiligo patients are in a state of cobalt deficiency in their bodies. Vitamin B12 supplementation is a feasible approach.
(5) Iron: Iron in the body is mainly involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin, the body iron deficiency can lead to a reduction in hemoglobin synthesis, affecting the oxygen transport, exchange and tissue respiration process. For 100 cases of vitiligo patients hair iron content determination, found that the patients hair iron content significantly lower than the normal control group. The results of organismal iron content testing in several other groups of vitiligo patients showed that the hair iron content was decreased in most patients.
Although vitiligo patients have a variety of trace elements content abnormal, and most of them are a variety of trace elements level is low, but clinical to patients simply supplement the detection level of lower trace elements, did not achieve the effect of completely control the disease and reduce the disease. Therefore, some experts believe that vitiligo patients with low levels of trace elements in the body, most cases may be the patient secondary or concomitant lack of trace elements to, and not the main cause of the onset of vitiligo.