The Current Status of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Vitiligo in China.

Abstract

Little is known about the use of antioxidants in the clinical treatment of vitiligo. To investigate the specific use of antioxidants in the treatment of vitiligo and the possible reasons behind its use in China, we conducted a prospective questionnaire-based study using an online questionnaire comprising 26 questions in 5 areas. A total of 323 clinical frontline dermatologists participated in this study. Differences among groups were compared using Pearson's chi-square test. Ordinal logistic regression was used to develop knowledge-use multiple regression models. Among the 323 dermatologists, 293 (90.7%) approved the oxidative stress theory of vitiligo, and 182 (56.3%) encouraged the use of antioxidants for treating vitiligo; nonetheless, only 11.8% frequently treated vitiligo with antioxidants. Insufficient knowledge of antioxidants was a significant predictor of lower frequency of antioxidant usage (adjusted odds ratio, 0.401 [95% confidence interval, 0.256-0.629]; P < .001). The predictors associated with higher antioxidant efficacy included advanced or rapid progression, moderate or moderate-to-severe vitiligo, age of 0-2 years or 13-18 years, segmental vitiligo, oral and topical combination therapy, and course duration of <1 month. The use of antioxidants for treating vitiligo is highly encouraged; however, the rates of their clinical use are considerably low. Insufficient knowledge of antioxidants is associated with a lower frequency of antioxidant usage. The synergistic curative efficacy of antioxidants could be affected by the stage, type, severity, age of patients with vitiligo, and method of using antioxidants.

• Authors: Ying Zhou, Manal Khan, Ling Jiang, Chuhan Fu, Yumeng Dong, Liping Luo, Haoran Guo, Lijuan Gao, Xinxin Lei, Li Zhang, Xing Yu, Li Lei, Jinhua Huang, Jing Chen, Qinghai Zeng
• Journal: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (Oxid Med Cell Longev) Vol. 2022 Pg. 2994558 ( 2022) ISSN: 1942-0994 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35251468 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Ying Zhou et al.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• China (epidemiology)
• Dermatologists (psychology)
• Female
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Prospective Studies
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• Uncertainty
• Vitiligo (drug therapy, epidemiology, metabolism)