title: Phototherapy and vitamin D.
abstract: The skin is the site for the photosynthesis of vitamin D and is a target tissue for the active metabolite of vitamin D. An increasing body of evidence indicates that vitamin D produced during phototherapy may be responsible for the positive effects observed during treatment of some skin diseases. Topical or oral application of vitamin D derivatives are used alone or with phototherapy. This paper reviews what is known about the use of phototherapy to enhance vitamin D levels, the use of vitamin D analogues with phototherapy, the efficacy of combination therapies, and controversies regarding some of the outcomes. Vitamin D can play a beneficial role in treating psoriasis, even though the exact role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and severity of psoriasis remains unclear. The role of vitamin D in vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, polymorphic light eruption, and mycosis fungoides must be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, N-0310 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Asta.juzeniene@rr-research.no.
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juzeniene
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, N-0310 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Mantas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grigalavicius
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, N-0310 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juraleviciute
authors.affiliation: Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D