Serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 in Korean patients with vitiligo

The association of vitiligo and pernicious anemia has been previously docum ented. The low levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 were thought to be rel ated to vitiligo. To date, there have been very few reports about the serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 in patients with vitiligo. Using rad ioimmunoassay, we measured the serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 in 100 Korean patients with vitiligo. The mean serum levels of folic acid a nd vitamin B-12 were 6.31+/-2.82 ng/ml and 630.25+/-230.94 pg/ml, respectiv ely, in patients with vitiligo. These levels showed no significant differen ce compared to the normal control group, suggesting that folic acid and vit amin B-12 do not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.