title: Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on disease severity in patients with psoriasis: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many randomized controlled trials have been performed on the efficacy and mechanism of action of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on psoriasis. However, contradictory results have been obtained. This study wants to assess the effects of n-3 PUFAs on the severity of psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for all randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies comparing the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs versus control in adult patients with psoriasis. The primary outcome was psoriasis severity as measured by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial search yielded 732 articles, 720 of which were excluded. The data of the 12 remaining studies were extracted. Some studies found that n-3 PUFAs were associated with improvements in the PASI score, erythema, scaling, itching, area involved and infiltration. However, some studies did not find reduction in scaling, erythema, area involved or thickness in the treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is still inconclusive whether use of n-3 PUFAs in patients with psoriasis is associated with improvements in severity of psoriasis and other outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bassett Medical Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cooperstown, New York, USA.|Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sikarin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Upala
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bassett Medical Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cooperstown, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Wai Chung
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8395-6897
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Talent
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Theparee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bassett Medical Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cooperstown, New York, USA.|Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Anawin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3662-4136
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanguankeo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: 
  PUFA
  ; polyunsaturated fatty acids; psoriasis; systematic review