Vitiligo is an acquired, depigmenting skin disease with still unclear, multifactorial etiopathogenesis. However, there is growing evidence that vitiligo affects not only the skin but it may also be connected with metabolic abnormalities, including glucose intolerance and lipid abnormalities, all of which confirms the systemic nature of the disease. Recently, it has been shown that melanocytes, especially those found in the adipose tissue, due to their ability to decrease inflammation and oxidative damage, are capable of preventing the metabolic syndrome. The article presents updated knowledge on potential metabolic disturbances in vitiligo.
© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.