title: Placebo-controlled trial of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Treatment of atopic dermatitis with essential fatty acids remains controversial. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was done to investigate the response of patients with atopic dermatitis to essential fatty acid supplements. Patients with atopic dermatitis were randomised to receive evening primrose oil, evening primrose oil and fish oil, or placebo for 16 weeks. Disease activity was monitored by clinical severity scores recorded by the investigator, topical steroid requirement, and symptom scores recorded by subjects. Of 123 subjects recruited, 102 completed the treatment period. No improvement with active treatment was demonstrated. Our study, which avoided the methodological and analytical problems of previous studies, found no effect of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berth-Jones
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Graham-Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008297:Male; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010938:Plant Oils; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005395:Fish Oils; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid