From healthcentral.com
Vitamin D and curcumin show some promise—but the evidence is mixed. Here’s what to know before adding supplements to your psoriasis treatment plan
Psoriasis is an immune-related condition that causes inflammation in the body. Because of that, many people wonder if changing what they eat—or taking certain supplements—might help. Some nutrients are known to fight inflammation, and a few have been studied in people with psoriasis. So it seems logical: If you can’t perfectly follow a Mediterranean or DASH diet, could a daily supplement help calm inflammation instead?
It’s not that simple. Supplements can be expensive, and so far, research on whether they improve psoriasis symptoms has been limited and mixed. To get clearer answers, researchers recently reviewed more than 20 clinical trials, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, that looked at popular supplements for psoriasis. Two showed the most promise—but results varied, and none worked for everyone. Here’s what to know before adding anything new to your routine.
Weighing the Evidence
The review examined seven commonly discussed supplements:
Curcumin
Fish oil
Multivitamins
Probiotics
Selenium
Vitamin D
XP-828L (whey protein extract)
Each of these has anti-inflammatory properties that could, in theory, help psoriasis.
“Omega-3 fatty acids [in fish oil] have the most acceptable data to support use in psoriasis, and oral supplements containing antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and selenium may help promote anti-inflammatory pathways that counter the pro-inflammatory ones in psoriasis,” says Rosanne Paul, D.O., an assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH who was not one of the study’s authors.
Still, the overall evidence wasn’t strong enough to clearly recommend most of them. Multivitamins appeared to show the biggest improvement, but results differed greatly between studies, making it hard to trust the finding. XP-828L, a whey protein extract, showed some possible benefit, but it isn’t available in the U.S.
That left two supplements that stood out: vitamin D and curcumin.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin.” It plays a role in skin cell growth, helps regulate immune cells in the skin, and reduces inflammation. It’s also used in some prescription topical psoriasis treatments. People with psoriasis are more likely to have low vitamin D levels, and sunlight exposure often improves symptoms.
When it comes to taking it in oral form, the review found that vitamin D supplements led to mild to moderate improvement in psoriasis symptoms overall. However, study results were inconsistent. “There is a small improvement in PASI [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index] scores, but because the studies are all over the place, it’s not clear if this is actually clinically significant,” says Jessica Kaffenberger, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist specializing in psoriasis at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH who did not author the study. “It’s reasonable for patients to make sure they’re getting the recommended amount of vitamin D, but I wouldn’t recommend high doses.”
Adults under 50 should aim for 600 IU of vitamin D daily. Those 50 and older should aim for 800 to 1,000 IU daily. The safe upper limit is 4,000 IU per day.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the main active compound in turmeric. It gives the spice its bright yellow colour and is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. “Curcumin has been shown as a potentially effective adjunctive treatment for psoriasis in both topical and oral formulations,” says Dr. Paul.
In the review, people who took curcumin along with their usual psoriasis treatment had lower levels of interleukin-22 (IL-22), a protein that drives inflammation in psoriasis. They also showed some symptom improvement. It’s thought that it may calm the immune signals that tell your body to make the pro-inflammatory proteins in the first place.
Curcumin in food and most supplements is generally safe (up to 4 grams of concentrated curcumin supplements per day). However, some highly concentrated forms may carry a risk of liver injury. Always talk with your doctor before starting a new supplement.
The Bottom Line
Research on supplements for psoriasis is still evolving. Of those studied, vitamin D and curcumin show the most potential—but neither replaces standard treatment. If you’re thinking about adding a supplement, talk with your dermatologist first. Together, you can decide what fits safely into your overall care plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment