Psoriasis and Vitamin D

Did you know there is an important link between Psoriasis and vitamin D?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with psychological, metabolic, arthritic and cardiovascular complications.  It occurs more frequently in adults and is less common in children.

A study showed that the largest adult populations affected by psoriasis lived in the US, India, and China, followed by Germany, Brazil, France, and the UK (Ref 1).

Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, as your epidermis is the natural source of its formation by the action of ultraviolet light UV B of the sun. It has long been known to be a vitamin that is essential for the health of your bones, but now we know that has many other roles in our body, one of them is the key modulator of immune and inflammation mechanisms.

In skin health, vitamin D is essential, as it is involved in regulation of keratinocytes cycle, regulates the cutaneous immune system by inhibition of T cell proliferation and the promotion of Tregs, reduces inflammation and regulates the barrier integrity and permeability.  It actions on skin biology and psoriasis pathogenesis, thus the close link between psoriasis and vitamin D.

Vitamin D is involved in the maintenance of a healthy cutaneous barrier and has anti-inflammatory effects may supress the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Studies have shown that vitamin D values are significantly lower in people suffering from psoriasis. Therefore, low levels of vitamin D are negatively associated with markers of inflammatory activation and are linked to disease activity (Ref 2).

It is important to have its level properly balanced. Although the main source of vitamin D is made by your skin, a few foods naturally contain it. Good food sources are mainly of animal origin, for example swordfish, salmon, tuna, sardines, beef, egg, etc. Supplementation is necessary during the winter months.

Read about how a psoriasis diet has an incredible potential in reducing flares up in our previous post Psoriasis Diet.

If you wonder about your Vitamin D levels, we can organise a test.