Randomized controlled trial using vitamins E and D supplementation in atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing, highly pruritic and inflammatory skin disease. This study was done to assess the effects of vitamins D and E supplementation on the clinical manifestation of atopic dermatitis.


METHODS
Forty-five atopic dermatitis patients were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They were randomly divided into four groups and treated for 60 days: group P (n = 11), vitamins D and E placebos; group D (n = 12), 1600 IU vitamin D(3) plus vitamin E placebo; group E (n = 11), 600 IU synthetic all-rac-α-tocopherol plus vitamin D placebo; and group DE (n = 11), 1600 IU vitamin D(3) plus 600 IU synthetic all-rac-α-tocopherol. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D and plasma α-tocopherol were determined before and after the trial. The clinical improvement was evaluated with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests.


RESULTS
SCORAD was reduced after 60 days in groups D, E and DE by 34.8%, 35.7% and 64.3%, respectively (p = 0.004). Objective SCORAD also showed significant improvement. There was a positive correlation between SCORAD and intensity, objective, subjective and extent (p < 0.001). We found a significant negative association between plasma α-tocopherol and SCORAD, intensity, objective and extent (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the contributing and beneficial effects of vitamins D and E in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Javanbakht
Mohammad Hassan
MH
Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Keshavarz
Seyed Ali
SA
Djalali
Mahmoud
M
Siassi
Fereydoun
F
Eshraghian
Mohammad Reza
MR
Firooz
Alireza
A
Seirafi
Hassan
H
Ehsani
Amir Hooshang
AH
Chamari
Maryam
M
Mirshafiey
Abbas
A
D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol