title: Randomized controlled trial using vitamins E and D supplementation in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Javanbakht
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djalali
authors.forename: Fereydoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siassi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firooz
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seirafi
authors.forename: Amir Hooshang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ehsani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirshafiey
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol