Effect of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on psoriasis

doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(89)80363-9

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Volume 21, Issue 1, July 1989, Pages 150-151

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(89)80363-9 Get rights and content

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Eicosapentaenoic acid as a modulator of inflammation
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SB Bittiner et al.
A doubleblind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in psoriasis
Lancet
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HM Sinclair
Advantages and disadvantages of an Eskimo diet

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Cited by (16)

Diet and psoriasis, part III: Role of nutritional supplements
2014, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Citation Excerpt :
In another double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 24 patients with chronic stable plaque psoriasis, the group that received 10 capsules of MaxEPA (1.8 g EPA, 1.2 g DHA) (Seven Seas Health Care, Hull, UK) daily for 12 weeks showed more improvement in itching, erythema, scaling, and affected body surface area than the control group receiving 10 capsules of olive oil a day; however, only the improvement in erythema was statistically significant at 12 weeks.5 Several uncontrolled, open studies have also shown that supplementation of fish oil, ranging from 0.54 to 13.5 g EPA and 0 to 9.0 g DHA daily for 6 weeks to 6 months, resulted in clinical improvement, measured by erythema, induration, and scaling.6-12 These studies have also demonstrated clinical improvement associated with inhibition of leukotriene B4 production in peripheral leukocytes in vitro, decreases in platelet malondialdehyde production, changes in abnormalities of erythrocyte lipid membrane pattern, and increase in leukotriene B5 to leukotriene B4 ratio in peripheral blood neutrophils.6-9,13
Patients with psoriasis are increasingly turning to the use of alternative and complementary medicine to manage their psoriasis. Patients often inquire about what dietary supplements may be beneficial, including the use of oral vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils. In this review we examine the extent to which each of these common nutritional interventions has been studied for the treatment of psoriasis. We weighed evidence from both controlled and uncontrolled prospective trials. The evidence of benefit was highest for fish oils. For other supplements, there is need for additional large, randomized clinical trials to establish evidence of efficacy.
Nutrition and psoriasis
2010, Clinics in Dermatology
Citation Excerpt :
This change corresponds with clinical improvement.3 Several of the initial open studies with oral fish oil supplementation showed that between 3.6 and 14 grams of EPA daily for a range of 6 weeks to 6 months resulted in some clinical improvement with minimal side effects.3-6 Clinical response in some studies was associated with uptake of EPA and DHA into the serum, neutrophils, and epidermis4; inhibition of leukotriene B4 synthesis by peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro3; increases in the peripheral blood neutrophil LTB5/LTB4 ratios5; reversal of abnormalities in erythrocyte membrane lipid patterns; and decreases in platelet malondialdehyde production.7
Nutritional supplementation may provide a viable treatment alternative in patients with psoriasis. Randomized, controlled trials have shown the effectiveness of topical vitamin A and D derivatives, intravenous ω-3 fatty acids, oral inositol, and various combined therapies. Dual therapies of ultraviolet B phototherapy and fish oil, retinoids and thiazolidinediones, and cyclosporine and a low-calorie diet were effective in the treatment of psoriasis in randomized, controlled trials. This contribution also reviews the potential negative effect of alcohol and the potential positive effects of vitamin B₁₂, selenium, retinoic acid metabolism-blocking agents, and a gluten-free diet in the treatment of psoriasis.
Lipid mediators, free fatty acids and psoriasis
1995, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Psoriasis: Current concepts and new approaches to therapy
1992, Medical Hypotheses
Psoriasis is a common disorder characterized by marked increases in keratinocyte proliferation, abnormal patterns of keratinocyte differentiation, prominent alterations in dermal capillary vasculature and the presence of dermal and epidermal T cells, monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. It is now known that psoriasis can occur due to abnormalities in essential fatty acid metabolism, lymphokine secretion, free radical generation, lipid peroxidation and eicosanoid metabolism. It is possible to suppress almost completely psoriatic lesions by judicious use of methotrexate, cyclosporine A, and eicosapentaenoic acid. Our studies have shown that in patients with psoriasis there is an increase in the generation of free radicals with an alteration in essential fatty acid metabolism and that side-effects of anti-cancer drugs can be blocked by essential fatty acids in vivo. Thus, essential fatty acid metabolism seems to play a crucial role both in the pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis.
Fish oil supplements for treatment of psoriasis: An overview of systematic reviews
2024, Dermatologica Sinica
Diet and psoriasis
2019, Dermatology Online Journal

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Effect of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on psoriasis

Biochem Pharmacol

Lancet

Advantages and disadvantages of an Eskimo diet