A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the effects of vitamin D supplementation among diagnosed atopic dermatitis patients

ABSTRACT

Background@#Atopic Dermatitis is an emerging public health concern. Recently, several studies have explored the role of Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis. To date, there is no local study using Vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.@*Objective@#To determine the efficacy of Vitamin D supplementation in improvement of the disease severity in atopic dermatitis patients.@*Methods@#This is a Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The participants were newly diagnosed atopic dermatitis patients aged 19 to 50 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 1 capsule of oral Vitamin D supplement (2200 IU/capsule) or a comparable placebo capsule, once daily for 60 days. Vitamin D level and disease severity using SCORAD index was evaluated at the start and end of the study.@*Results@#The mean value of serum Vitamin D levels at the start of treatment was deficient and comparable between the treatment and placebo group. The mean change in the serum Vitamin D levels of patients in the Treatment and Placebo group were 10.4 ng/mL ± 5.8 and -0.4 ng/mL ± 3.5, respectively. The mean change in the SCORAD index scores of patients in the Treatment and Placebo group were -20.2 ± 20.6 and 2.2 ± 6.8, respectively. Result of the two-sample independent t-test showed that the mean change in the SCORAD index scores significantly varied according to treatment group (p<0.0001).@*Conclusion@#The results from this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may ameliorate clinical signs of the disease and can be considered as a safe and well-tolerated form of therapy.