Low vitamin D3 levels may be associated with herpes zoster reactivation

Introduction: Vitamin D affects the secretion of antimicrobial peptides associated with toll-like receptor (TLR), which have antiviral effects. Objective: It has been suggested that vitamin D may affect the suscepti-bility of the host to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and the clinical course of herpes zoster. Material and methods: In this study, 101 patients who were diagnosed with herpes zoster at the dermatology outpatient clinic and had a vita-min D result at the time of diagnosis and a control group of 100 healthy people were included. Results were analyzed statistically. Results: The 25-OH vitamin D levels of the patients ranged from 2.37 to 32.98 mu g/l and the mean value was 14.25 +/- 7.20 mu g/l. In the control group, 25-OH vitamin D levels ranged between 10.3 and 44.25 mu g/l, and the mean value was 24.9 +/- 6.24 mu g/l. 25-OH vitamin D levels in the patient group were significantly lower than the levels in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study revealed that 25-OH vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with herpes zoster compared to the con-trol group. 25-OH vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of VZV reactivation and vitamin D supplementation may alleviate the course of the disease in vitamin D-deficient patients with herpes zoster.