BACKGROUND: The relation between zinc and
the cytokines involved in vitiligo pathogenesis
has not been studied well. OBJECTIVE: We aimed
to investigate the serum levels of zinc in patients
with vitiligo and to assess their relation to serum
interleukins (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17. PATIENTS
AND METHODS: The study included 50 patients
with active vitiligo and 100 age-, sex-, and
BMI-matched healthy volunteers as a control
group. Serum zinc levels, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17 were
evaluated in all participants. RESULTS: The mean
serum levels of zinc was signi cantly reduced in
patients with vitiligo, while the serum levels of
IL-17, IL-4, and IL-6 were signi cantly elevated
in the vitiligo group when compared with the
controls (P