Association of Epidemiological and Biochemical Factors with Premature Graying of Hair: A Case-Control Study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case-control study
PubMed 30607040 · doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_39_18
What was done
A cross-sectional case-control study conducted over 1 year at a tertiary care hospital in North India evaluated 120 patients with premature hair graying (PHG) and 120 controls. The authors recorded epidemiological variables and measured biochemical markers, including serum ferritin, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, lipid profile, thyroid profile, and fasting blood sugar in both groups.
What was found
The abstract reports directional findings without numerical values, odds ratios, or exact p-values: - Significantly higher proportions of cases had atopic diathesis, sedentary lifestyle, family history, smoking history, and higher perceived stress values compared to controls. - Hair oiling appeared protective against premature graying. - Cases had significantly lower levels of serum calcium, ferritin, vitamin B12, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and significantly higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Why it matters
It identifies several modifiable lifestyle factors and micronutrient deficiencies (ferritin, calcium, vitamin B12) associated with premature hair graying that warrant further clinical investigation.
Limits
The single-center case-control design cannot establish causality. The abstract reports no numerical measurements, effect sizes, or confidence intervals, and the sample size is relatively small (120 cases and 120 controls) from a single geographic region.
Cited by
- partial Deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12, and selenium are linked to premature hair graying or whitening in childhood or early adulthood, and supplementation can improve it.