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Vitamin D has long been known for its crucial role in helping calcium to build strong bones, with severe deficiency linked to the bone-softening disease rickets. More recently however, research into the importance of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ for many other aspects of health have emerged, alongside the growing awareness of widespread vitamin D deficiency on a global scale. Vitamin D is made in the skin, has multiple effects on the skin and is being widely studied as a potential therapeutic option for many skin problems. In this article we take a closer look at the relationship between vitamin D and skin health, focusing on the latest research into the potential benefits of vitamin D for eczema and psoriasis.

Scientific research - vitamin D for eczema and psoriasis

• A 2018 scientific review, published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology found that vitamin D supplements may help to improve symptoms of common skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis. Scientists analysed data from studies on vitamin D functions in skin physiology; they focused mainly on inflammatory skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis and overall, found vitamin D to have beneficial therapeutic effects. The researchers concluded, “so far, therapeutic interventions (topical and systemic) based on vitamin D have been proved beneficial in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema).”1

• In a 2022 randomised controlled trial, researchers found a protective effect of antenatal vitamin D supplementation on the risk of infantile atopic eczema.2 Another 2022 research study found sufficient umbilical cord blood vitamin D levels to be associated with a lower incidence of eczema in infants up to one year of age.3 And in a later 2023 systematic review, scientists again found an association between higher vitamin D levels in umbilical cord blood and reduced risk of eczema in childhood.4

• A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis (including 32 randomised controlled trials with 2347 participants) published in Nutrients investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on children with allergic diseases. The researchers found that vitamin D supplementation reduces the severity of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children.5

• Low vitamin D is considered a risk factor for psoriasis. In a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrients, researchers investigated the relationship between vitamin D and psoriasis. They found vitamin D levels to be significantly lower in psoriasis, although they also reported that vitamin D supplementation did not seem to improve clinical manifestations.6 Another 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that patients with psoriasis were at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.7

Vitamin D has a crucial role to play in many aspects of health and yet there are still high levels of vitamin D deficiency on a global scale. There are firm links between vitamin D and skin health. And more specifically, much research to date has shown that it is crucial to consider the levels of vitamin D for psoriasis and eczema. The wider health benefits (beyond skin health) of maintaining vitamin D levels within an optimal range, without doubt, make this a highly important consideration.

References:
1. Umar M, Sastry KS et al. Vitamin D and the pathophysiology of inflammatory skin diseases. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. Published online https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/485132
2. El-Heis S, D’Angelo S, et al. Maternal antenatal vitamin D supplementation and offspring risk of atopic eczema in the first 4 years of life: evidence from a randomised controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2022 Nov; 187(5):659-666
3. Liu YY, Zhou XJ, et al. The relationship between vitamin D levels in umbilical cord blood and infantile eczema. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 Oct; 42(7): 2813-2817
4. Zeng R, Li Y, et al. Is antenatal or early-life vitamin D associated with eczema or food allergy in childhood? A systematic review. Clin Exp Allergy. 2023 May; 53(5): 511-525

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