BACKGROUND: Because vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties and immunologic mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), it is possible that vitamin D may influence the activity of AD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to correlate vitamin D concentrations in patients who had AD with clinical, immunologic, constitutional, and environmental factors, and to determine if vitamin D supplementation affects the clinical manifestations of AD. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory parameters of 95 patients with AD and 58 control subjects were measured. Severity of AD was assessed with the SCORAD index. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 in patients with AD was not statistically different from control subjects. The frequency of bacterial skin infections was higher in patients with AD who had lower 25(OH)D₃ levels. No statistical associations between vitamin D levels and other multiple laboratory and clinical parameters were found. After supplementation both mean objective SCORAD and SCORAD index were significantly lower (P < .05). LIMITATIONS: All study patients were Caucasians and only one supplemental vitamin D dose and treatment duration were assessed. CONCLUSION: The results from this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may help ameliorate clinical signs of the disease and can be considered as a safe and well-tolerated form of therapy.
BACKGROUND: Because vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties and immunologic mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), it is possible that vitamin D may influence the activity of AD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to correlate vitamin D concentrations in patients who had AD with clinical, immunologic, constitutional, and environmental factors, and to determine if vitamin D supplementation affects the clinical manifestations of AD. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory parameters of 95 patients with AD and 58 control subjects were measured. Severity of AD was assessed with the SCORAD index. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 in patients with AD was not statistically different from control subjects. The frequency of bacterial skin infections was higher in patients with AD who had lower 25(OH)D₃ levels. No statistical associations between vitamin D levels and other multiple laboratory and clinical parameters were found. After supplementation both mean objective SCORAD and SCORAD index were significantly lower (P < .05). LIMITATIONS: All study patients were Caucasians and only one supplemental vitamin D dose and treatment duration were assessed. CONCLUSION: The results from this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may help ameliorate clinical signs of the disease and can be considered as a safe and well-tolerated form of therapy.