Elevated levels of vitamin D can improve psoriasis symptoms

A joint study between Australian and New Zealand researchers reported that higher levels of vitamin D can alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. Taking vitamin D3 supplements was shown to boost the levels of the vitamin D serum 25(OH)D and reduce the effects of the chronic skin disease.

The study was undertaken by New Zealand’s Massey University, and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism.

• Researchers gathered 101 participants – all over the age of 18 and suffering from plaque psoriasis – and split them into two groups: the supplement group and the placebo group. Participants in both groups took 200,000 International Units (IU) of cholecalciferol as a vitamin D3 supplement.
• Afterward, the 67 members of the supplement group took 100,000 IU of supplements every month for 11 months. The 34 members of the placebo group received placebos.
• Researchers recorded the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the level of the serum 25(OH)D at the start of the trial and every three months for 12 months.
• The results of the experiment showed an inverse correlation between 25(OH)D and PASI. Increasing vitamin D serum levels were linked with minor decreases in PASI.
• There were no differences in the PASI scores of both groups. A similar percentage (11.9 percent of treatment versus 11.8 percent of placebo) showed at least 50 percent reduction of PASI. However, the treatment group showed improved levels of 25(OH)D during the third month while the placebo group only showed improvements on the 6th month.

Based on their findings, the 25(OH)D concentrations used in the experiment improved psoriasis symptoms by a mild margin. Therefore, the researchers propose that much higher levels of vitamin D supplements could generate greater benefits for psoriasis patients. See VitaminD.news for more coverage.

Journal Reference:

Ingram M, Jones B, Stonehouse W, Jarrett P, Scragg R, Hurst PV. THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN D ON CHRONIC PLAQUE PSORIASIS: A RANDOMISED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED SUPPLEMENTATION TRIAL. Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism. 2016;4:39. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnim.2015.12.297.