Objective To investigate the correlations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VitD) and serum cytokines of interferon (IFN)-α2, interleukin(IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-17A in Chinese Han patients newly diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods This study recruited 86 Chinese patients newly diagnosed with SLE and 73 healthy volunteers. The serum 25-OH-VitD was detected using ELISA. The serum levels of IFN-α2, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A were detected using Luminex liquichip. The associations between serum 25-OH-VitD and serum cytokines, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were analyzed using Spearman linear correlation analysis. Results The serum 25-OH-VitD was significantly lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls. The serum 25-OH-VitD was positively correlated with serum C3, negatively correlated with serum IL-17A and 24 hour urine protein excretion, but not obviously correlated with serum IFN-α2, IL-6 and IL-10. Conclusion The serum 25-OH-VitD decreases in Chinese patients newly diagnosed with SLE and it is negatively correlated with serum IL-17A.