ReviewComplementary and alternative medicine for psoriasis: A qualitative review of the clinical trial literature
Section snippets
Methods
We searched for studies in the English language for which clinical response of psoriasis was the primary end point. Only randomized, controlled trials were included in the analysis. Blinding was not necessarily an inclusion criterion. Studies were excluded if they were not described as “randomized,” they were not open label, they were not in the English language, or the primary end point was not a clinical assessment (ie, a basic science end point). PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and AMED (Allied and
Vitamin D
There have been case reports showing efficacy of vitamin-D metabolites for psoriasis. Also, patients receiving vitamin D for osteoporosis have showed improvements in their psoriasis. Siddiqui and Al-Kwawajah10 conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind trial using 1 μg/d vitamin D3 (1-α-hydroxyl) compared with placebo in patients with moderate to severe disease (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] score > 15). Fifty patients were enrolled and 41 completed the 12-week trial. At week 12 an
Discussion
We conducted a qualitative systematic review of various CAM modalities for psoriasis by searching the medical literature for randomized controlled trials that met our inclusion criteria. Those dermatologists who treat moderate and severe psoriasis have most certainly had patients asking about therapeutic alternatives to conventional Western medicine. Probably, in most situations, our patients are not looking to replace their existing therapy but are trying to do everything possible to get their
References (46)
- et al.
Use of complementary medicine among outpatients with dermatologic conditions within Yorkshire and South Wales, United Kingdom
J Am Acad Dermatol
(2005) - et al.
Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary?
Control Clin Trials
(1996) - et al.
Soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor type I during selenium supplementation in psoriasis patients
Nutrition
(2003) - et al.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in psoriasis
Lancet
(1988) - et al.
ω-3 Fatty acid-based lipid infusion in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
J Am Acad Dermatol
(1998) - et al.
Dead sea bath salt for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a double-blind controlled study
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
(1997) - et al.
Effects of psychologic intervention on psoriasis: a preliminary report
J Am Acad Dermatol
(1996) - et al.
Dimethylfumarate specifically inhibits the mitogen and stress-activated kinases 1 and 2 (MSK1/2): possible role for its anti-psoriatic effect
J Invest Dermatol
(2007) - et al.
Alternative therapies commonly used within a population of patients with psoriasis
Cutis
(1996) - et al.
Complementary medicine and psoriasis: linking the patient's outlook with evidence-based medicine
Dermatology
(2003)
Complementary and alternative medicine among patients attending a hospital dermatology clinic in Taiwan
Int J Dermatol
Use of alternative treatments by patients with psoriasis
Br J Gen Pract
Use of alternative medicine by patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
Acta Derm Venereol
Complementary therapy for psoriasis
Dermatol Ther
Vitamin D3 and psoriasis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
J Dermatol Treat
The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Br J Dermatol
A trial of oral zinc supplementation in psoriasis
Cutis
Aqueous extract of neem leaves in treatment of psoriasis vulgaris
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol
Management of psoriasis with aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study
Trop Med Int Health
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a commercial aloe vera gel in the treatment of slight to moderate psoriasis vulgaris
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
Vitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil in the therapy of plaque psoriasis
Dermatology
Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Reliéva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract–a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Am J Ther
Cited by (0)
Funding sources: None.
Conflicts of interest: None declared.