Psoriasis Severity May Be Influenced by Vitamin D Levels
Psoriasis severity may be associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels, according to the authors of a new study. However, they did not observe any benefit of vitamin D3 supplementation for psoriasis.
For their study, the researchers assessed 101 participants aged 18 years and older with psoriasis. Participants were categorized by psoriasis severity and were subsequently randomly assigned to receive either 100,000 IU vitamin D3 per month (200,000 IU at baseline; n = 67) or an identical placebo (n = 34) for 12 months.
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The researchers determined participants’ Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and serum 25(OH)D concentrations every 3 months. The association between 25(OH)D and PASI was also assessed in a post hoc analysis.
Although PASI did not differ between groups at any point in time, the researchers found that 25(OH)D increased in both groups, which rendered these results inconclusive.
However, they observed a significant inverse relationship between PASI and 25(OH)D. Elevation of 25(OH)D by up to 125 nmol/L was found to be associated with mild decreases in PASI).
“A direct benefit of vitamin D3 supplementation for psoriasis could not be determined,” the researchers concluded. “However, these findings suggest a relationship between 25(OH)D and psoriasis severity, at least in some subgroups.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Ingram MA, Jones MB, Stonehouse W, Jarrett P, Scragg R, Mugridge O. Oral vitamin D3 supplementation for chronic plaque psoriasis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial [Published online February 26, 2018]. J Dermatol Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2018.1444728.