Could Vitamin D Supplementation Improve Atopic Dermatitis?

Patients with atopic dermatitis may benefit from short-term, daily, oral supplementation with 5000 IU of vitamin D3, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind trial.

Researchers evaluated the effects of oral supplementation with vitamin D3 plus baseline therapy on 65 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, as determined by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis scale (SCORAD). Patients were randomized to receive either 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, or a placebo capsule. All patients also underwent baseline therapy of topical hydrocortisone aceponate, soap substitute, and emollient during the 12-week study period.

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Baseline testing indicated that patients in the placebo and intervention groups had similar levels of 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus, and pruritus. Fifty-nine percent of patients had insufficient serum 25(OH)D, and 39% had deficient levels of 25(OH)D. Serum 25(OH)D was considered sufficient if levels were greater than 30 ng/mL, insufficient if levels were between 20 and 30 ng/mL, and deficient if levels were less than 20 ng/mL. Both the placebo and intervention groups also had similar scores on SCORAD and the 6-areas Total Body Severity Assessment at baseline.

When the 12-week intervention was complete, patients in the treatment group had higher levels of 25(OH)D. Patients who had higher 25(OH)D levels also had significantly lower SCORAD, and this remained true whether they were in the treatment or placebo groups. Researchers reported that all of the patients in the intervention group had levels of serum 25(OH)D of at least 30 ng/mL at the end of the study period. In addition, 41% of patients in the placebo group also reached 30 ng/mL.

A final serum level of 25(OH)D of at least 20 ng/mL was linked with a 20-point average on the SCORAD versus 38 points on the SCORAD for those with 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL, researchers noted.

“Attaining 25(OH)D levels 20ng/ml in addition to baseline therapy reduced the SCORAD of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis,” the study’s authors concluded.

—Lauren LeBano

Reference

Sanchez-Armendariz K, Garcia Gil A, Contreras Ruiz J, Karam Orante M, Dominguez Cherit J. 275 Oral vitamin D3 5000IU as an adjuvant In the treatment of atopic dermatitis: A randomized controlled trial. Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. 2017. Abstract 275.