Fish Oil Could Help Manage Psoriasis

Supplementation with fish oil and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) could benefit patients with psoriasis, according to the results of a recent study.

While the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil and ω-3 PUFAs are well understood, their effects on psoriasis and its comorbidities are less well-established, according to the researchers.

They conducted a systematic review using data from 18 randomized controlled trials involving 927 patients. Overall, supplementation with fish oil and ω-3 PUFAs alone had no effect on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, lesion area, or pruritus.

However, when combined with conventional treatment, fish oil and ω-3 PUFAs were associated with decreased PASI score (mean difference [MD], -3.92; 95% CI, -6.15 to -1.69) and lesion area (MD, -30.00; 95% CI, -33.82 to -26.18). They were also associated with reduction in risk factors for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease in patients with psoriasis.

“Overall, when combined with conventional treatments, fish oil and its components may have beneficial effects on psoriasis and its comorbidities, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Chen X, Hong S, Sun X, et al. Efficacy of fish oil and its components in the management of psoriasis: a systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials [published online January 29, 2020]. Nutr Rev. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz098.