Assessment of Levels of Vitamin B12, Ferritin and Iron in Patients with Viral Warts

Abstract

Background: Viral warts are benign epidermal proliferations resulting from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential utility of evaluating serum vitamin B12, ferritin and iron in patients with viral warts. Methods: This case–control study was conducted at the Dermatology, Andrology & Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) Outpatient Clinics on 60 participants divided into two groups: Group I included 30 patients with clinically diagnosed viral warts. Group II composed of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as controls. Serum vitamin B12 and ferritin levels were measured using ELISA kits, and serum iron was assessed by the colorimetric ferrozine method.

Results: Plantar warts showed the highest mean vitamin B12 levels and genital warts the lowest, serum vitamin B12 was the only significant predictor of viral warts, with each 1 pg/mL increase reducing the odds by about 1%.

Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the potential role of vitamin B12 in HPV susceptibility and suggest that assessing B12 status could aid in managing recurrent or resistant warts.