title: Oral vitamin D, still a viable treatment option for psoriasis.
abstract: Vitamin D as a topical treatment has become one of the mainstays for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. Oral vitamin D on the other hand has for the most part become a forgotten option. But a review of the literature on oral vitamin D as a treatment for psoriasis reveals that this treatment is efficacious. The main side effect of this therapy is hypercalcemia, which appears to be easily monitored and avoidable with proper dosing and monitoring. The literature also suggests a correlation between low levels of serum vitamin D in this patient population associated with increased severity of disease involvement. In addition, oral vitamin D improves psoriatic arthropathy. Moreover, vitamin D has been proven to have many health benefits such as prevention of cancer, improved cardiovascular health among many others. Psoriatic patients as a population are at increased risk of developing adverse health complications such as cardiovascular disease, and oral vitamin D may prove to be of benefit in this population. Oral vitamin D is inexpensive and easily available. It is still a viable option and should not be forgotten as a possible treatment for psoriasis.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. fkamangar@gmail.com
authors: Faranak
authors: F
authors: Kamangar
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Koo
authors: Misha
authors: M
authors: Heller
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Lee
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Bhutani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D