Review · April 26, 2014
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- This review assessed studies on nutritional supplement use in patients with psoriasis. There was moderate evidence of benefit with fish oil supplementation; however, studies on vitamin D, vitamin B12, and selenium had inconsistent results.
- The authors conclude that further evaluation by large, randomized trials is needed to determine if nutritional supplements have clinical efficacy in patients with psoriasis.
– Sarah Churton, MD
ABSTRACT
Patients with psoriasis are increasingly turning to the use of alternative and complementary medicine to manage their psoriasis. Patients often inquire about what dietary supplements may be beneficial, including the use of oral vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils. In this review we examine the extent to which each of these common nutritional interventions has been studied for the treatment of psoriasis. We weighed evidence from both controlled and uncontrolled prospective trials. The evidence of benefit was highest for fish oils. For other supplements, there is need for additional large, randomized clinical trials to establish evidence of efficacy.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Diet and Psoriasis, Part III: Role of Nutritional Supplements
J Am Acad Dermatol 2014 Apr 26;[EPub Ahead of Print], JW Millsop, BK Bhatia, M Debbaneh, J Koo, W Liao
Expert Comment
Dermatology
Patients often ask about alternative treatments for psoriasis, but evidence-based information is lacking. Fish oil may benefit some patients and vitamin D shows some promise, but more controlled trials are needed before any supplements can be routinely recommended as safe and effective.