Vitiligo is associated with lower body mass index: a retrospective case-control study

Our study demonstrated that adults with vitiligo had a 1.5-unit lower BMI [mean (SD) 27.8 (6.1) vs. 29.3 (7.2) kg m-2; P = 0.001], but higher risk of hyperlipidaemia [aOR 1.40, 95% CI (1.12-1.70)] and hypercholesterolaemia [aOR 1.44, 95% CI (1.10-1.90)] compared with age-, sex- and race-matched subjects without vitiligo. The inverse association between BMI and vitiligo was independent of the presence of concomitant cardiometabolic diseases. Additionally, we contextualized these findings in relation to other immune-mediated skin disorders, including alopecia areata and psoriasis, to explore underlying pathogenesis and guide the development of appropriate screening criteria.