Vitamin D Supplementation in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Clinical Trial Study

March 2012 | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | Original Article | 327 | Copyright © March 2012


Abstract
Background: The role of vitamin D in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is ambiguous and clinical trials are needed to assess the role of vitamin D in the treatment of AD. The aim of this clinical trial study to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with AD.
Material and Methods: sixty AD patients were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study. They were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 60 days: group vitamin D (n=30), and placebo group (n=30). The two groups were as follows: Group D, 1600 IU cholecalciferol (vitamin D) and second group placebo. The severity of AD was evaluated based on SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) and TIS (Three Item Severity score) value by the same trained physician before and after the trial.
Results: According to SCORAD and TIS value index in the vitamin D group showed significant improvement in patients with mild, moderate and severe AD (P<0.05) and in patients who the intake placebo, this improvement didn't showed (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Results mention that supplementation with oral vitamin D dramatically improved disease severity in AD patients.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(3):327-330.

INTRODUCTION

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, complicated disease that frequently goes with a chronic, relapsing course and results from as-yet incompletely implicit interactions of genes and environment in susceptible types. The prevalence of this disorder is 10% to 20% in children and 1% to 3% in adults.1 AD is the most prevalent occupational skin disease in adults. Childhood AD may have a greater impact on health-related quality of life (QOL) than bronchial asthma, diabetes, enuresis, and cystic fibrosis.2
A recent genome report by Poon et al establishes a correlation between genetic variants of the vitamin D receptor and vulnerability to asthma and atopy.3 Also reports indicated that vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased rates of multiple cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension.4 In recent years, the vitamin D receptor has been found in a variety of cells, including keratinocytes and numerous cells of the immune system (e.g., dendritic cells, natural killer cells).5
A number of studies have explained the effects of vitamin D on autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease), inflammatory skin diseases (psoriasis), and malignancies (e.g., prostate, breast, and colon).4 The role of vitamin D in traditional atopic disorders (i.e., asthma, allergic rhinitis, and AD) are proven. Clinical trials are needed to assess the role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of AD patients.4 The aim of this clinical trial study to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with AD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled clinical trial study, a complete of 60 AD cases was chosen by Hanifin and Rajka's criteria from the dermatology outpatient clinic at Rasul Akram Hospital (Iran University of Medical Sciences) in 2010.5
The inclusion criteria were: age 14 and older, with no systemic diseases, concomitant systemic pyretic or inflammatory processes (other than diabetic mellitus and chronic viral hepatitis). The exclusion criteria were: pregnancy, concomitant systemic inflammatory disorder (other than diabetes mellitus and chronic viral hepatitis) and taking vitamin, mineral and fatty acids supplements, oral contraceptive pills, steroid hormones (oral or parenteral), anti-epileptic agents, anticoagulant drugs, like pregnant or nursing mothers. However, the sufferers could use the prescribed routine treatments of AD, including emollients, topical corticosteroids and oral anti-his-