Clinical Evaluation of Patients With Premature Canities and Its Association With Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction: Premature canities (early hair graying) are no longer just a cosmetic concern; they are visible markers of systemic oxidative stress.The underlying depletion of follicular melanocytes mirrors the physiological aging associated with metabolic syndrome.Consequently, early graying can serve as a crucial preclinical warning sign for underlying cardiovascular risks, including central obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.Aims and objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinico-epidemiological profile of patients with premature canities and to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in these individuals compared with healthy controls.Materials and methods: An observational case-control study, conducted at a tertiary care center, included 240 age-and sex-matched participants (120 cases and 120 controls).After collecting comprehensive demographic data, subjects were divided into mild, moderate, or severe categories based on the extent of hair graying at presentation.Metabolic syndrome parameters were subsequently evaluated using the NCEP ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria, which included waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting blood sugar.Results: The study identified a highly significant male predominance among the participants (n=85, 70.8%).The mean age of onset for premature graying was notably early, at 16.58 ± 4.20 years.A positive family history was reported by 38.3% (n=46) of the participants.Anthropometric and biochemical evaluations revealed that cases exhibited a significantly higher mean waist circumference compared with controls (84.44 cm vs. 81.75cm; p=0.020) and a higher mean systolic blood pressure (123.63 mmHg vs. 119.35mmHg; p=0.001).Furthermore, lipid profiles in cases demonstrated significantly lower protective HDL cholesterol (50.10 mg/dL vs. 53.34mg/dL; p=0.045) and elevated triglycerides (115.98 mg/dL vs. 103.40mg/dL; p=0.023) compared with controls.