Psoriasis and Fat-soluble Vitamins: A Review

Abstract

Fat-soluble vitamins exhibit numerous routes of immune modulation and specifically alter a variety of pathways in psoriasis pathology. Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated disease, often requires a combination of topical, oral, and occasionally, subcutaneous or intravenous therapies making disease management complex. With the complexity of treatment, patient adherence is reduced. Vitamin supplementation as an adjunctive treatment would minimize potential adverse effects from systemic medication, increase patient adherence and decrease overall cost. While vitamin A and D are effective topically, oral supplementation is not currently a mainstay of therapy although data exists to support such supplementation. Data on vitamin E and K implicate the significant role each has in the alteration of the inflammatory cascade responsible for psoriasis. Research showing fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in psoriasis exists and presents greater evidence for oral vitamin treatment in addition to first-line therapies. This review presents the mechanism of action in psoriasis of each fat-soluble vitamin and the data on the efficacy of oral fat-soluble vitamin supplementation in psoriasis and systemic inflammation. We also present fat-soluble vitamin deficiency data shown in psoriasis patients. With the evidence of their targeted mechanism of action, efficacy data with oral supplementation, and evidence of deficiency in patients, oral fat-soluble vitamins should be considered as an adjunct to therapy in psoriasis patients.