Changes of Serum Trace Elements Level in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Meta-Analysis

The meta-analysis investigated the relationship between serum trace element levels and alopecia areata (AA) by analyzing data from 10 eligible articles involving 764 subjects. The study found that patients with AA had significantly lower serum levels of zinc and selenium compared to healthy controls (P < 10−4 for both). However, there were no significant differences in the levels of serum copper, iron, ferritin, and magnesium between AA patients and controls. The findings suggested that low serum levels of zinc and selenium might be important risk factors for developing AA.