Dietary habits among patients with atopic dermatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the dietary habits among adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and relate intake to clinical symptoms.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a clinical trial.


METHODS
Five departments of dermatology at Norwegian University hospitals.


METHODS
Outpatients, 46 men (median age 27 y) and 92 women (median age 28 y).


METHODS
A quantitative food frequency questionnaire was filled in before attending the clinical trial. The results were compared to the diet of age- and sex-matched reference groups.


RESULTS
Male patients had higher content of refined sugar in their diet than reference men (P=0.014). Among female patients, the intake of saturated fatty acids was higher (P=0.049), whereas the intake of very long-chain n-3 fatty acids was lower (eicosapentaenoic acid, P=0.032, docosahexaenoic acid, P=0.017) than in the reference group. In both genders, more patients than reference subjects had vitamin D intake below recommended level. Furthermore, the female patients had significantly lower intake of fruit compared to the reference group (P=0.002). No correlation was found between nutrient intake of the patients and their clinical scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients's diet were fairly similar to the diet of reference groups. The intake of vitamin D and very long-chain n-3 fatty acids was low, especially among female patients. Furthermore, we could not detect any association between dietary habits and clinical status. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 93-97
Solvoll
K
K
Institute for Nutrition Research, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
Soyland
E
E
Sandstad
B
B
Drevon
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014807:Vitamin D