Special Diets

Dry, red, and itchy skin patches and rashes are typical symptoms of atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. Research has suggested vitamin D plays a protective role, but, depending on your location, diet, and the season, your vitamin D levels may fluctuate and could change the importance of vitamin D supplementation. To explore the possible relationship between vitamin D and atopic dermatitis, researchers conducted a review of the literature on this subject and reported that:

• People living in higher latitudes, who produce less vitamin D due to lower sun exposure, have been found to have a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis.
• The majority of the evidence suggests insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels are a risk factor for atopic dermatitis in adults and children, and lower vitamin D levels have been correlated with more severe symptoms.
• Clinical trials have shown vitamin D supplementation can improve the severity of symptoms in people with atopic dermatitis.
• Treatment with vitamin D has led to improvements in certain markers of inflammation in the blood and skin of people with atopic dermatitis.

These snapshots from the research are encouraging; however, it’s important to note that, while the vast majority of the evidence is consistent, there have been a few conflicting findings: at least one study found no connection between vitamin D levels and atopic dermatitis, and another found vitamin D intake during infancy increased atopic dermatitis risk. So, although it may be too soon to say whether vitamin D can benefit those with atopic dermatitis, we can say with certainty that vitamin D is important for overall health and is especially important for bone health. If atopic dermatitis is getting the best of you, speak with your healthcare practitioner to see if adding a vitamin D supplement to your health regimen is a good idea.

Sourc: Skin Pharmacology and Physiology