title: Evaluation of an oral supplement containing Phyllanthus emblica fruit extracts, vitamin E, and carotenoids in vitiligo treatment.
abstract: Phyllanthus emblica, vitamin E, and caroteinods are compounds showing antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and repigmenting effects, whose role in vitiligo treatment has not been evaluated so far. Sixty-five subjects (group A) were treated with one tablet of an oral supplement containing P. emblica (100 mg), vitamin E (10 mg), and carotenoids (4.7 mg) three times/day for 6 months and compared with a control group (group B, 65 patients), which instead was not treated with antioxidants. Both groups were simultaneously treated with a comparable topical therapy and/or phototherapy. After a 6 months follow-up, a significantly higher number of patients in group A had a mild repigmentation on the head/neck regions (p = 0.019) and on the trunk (trend, p = 0.051). The number of patients who presented no repigmentation in head/neck, trunk, upper, and lower limbs was significantly higher in group B (respectively, p = 0.009, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.025). Moreover, group B patients showed higher signs of inflammation (p = 0.002), a more rapid growth of the lesions (p = 0.039), a higher percentage of worsening disease (p = 0.003), and more erythema (p = 0.059), whereas group A patients showed a higher percentage of steady disease (p = 0.065). Our results suggest that the supplement with antioxidants in patients with vitiligo might represent a valuable instrument to increase the effectiveness of other vitiligo treatments. [Correction added after online publication 06-Oct-2014: the dosages of vitamin E and carotenoids have been updated.].
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dragoni
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pisaneschi
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D029842:Phyllanthus emblica / Q000737:chemistry; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: antioxidants; vitiligo