Dietary factors and the risk of psoriasis. Results of an Italian case-control study

Abstract

We have conducted a case-control study to explore the relation between the consumption of selected foods and psoriasis. The out-patient services of nine teaching hospitals and five general hospitals in northern and southern Italy took part. Cases were newly diagnosed psoriatics with a history of skin problems of no more than 2 years. As controls, we selected subjects with newly diagnosed skin conditions, other than psoriasis, who were seen in the same out-patient clinics. Inclusion of cases and controls was limited to the age group 16-65 years. A total of 316 psoriatics and 366 controls were recruited. Anthropometric measures, including height and weight, were obtained. Diet was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Psoriasis appeared to be positively associated with body mass index (chi 2(1) trend 4.3, P < 0.05). Significant inverse relations with psoriasis were also observed for the intake of carrots (chi 2(1) trend 4.8, P < 0.05), tomatoes (chi 2(1) trend 26.3, P < 0.01), fresh fruit (chi 2(1) trend 11.7, P < 0.01) and index of beta-carotene intake (chi 2(1) trend 9.1, P < 0.01). Although largely explorative, these results provide some evidence for a potential role of diet in psoriasis.

The Serum Levels of Malondialdehyde, Vitamin E and Erythrocyte Catalase Activity in Psoriasis Patients

“…The consumption of vegetable and fruits may be beneficial in psoriasis due to their high content of various antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C [33].…”

Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy in Psoriasis

“…The consumption of fruit and vegetables may be beneficial to such individuals due to the high antioxidant content, such as karotenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C, as an adequate antioxidant status is considered useful to the prevention of imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant defense (Naldi et al, 1996;Wolters, 2005). However, few studies have investigated the effects of antioxidant supplementation on the symptoms of psoriasis (Wolters, 2005).…”

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“…It is characterized by T-cell mediated hyper proliferation of keratinocytes and inflammatory processes based on complex genetic background 26,27 . Various potential risk factors includes smoking, alcohol consumption, trauma, infections, endocrine factors, stressful life events, as well as exposure to drugs such as Beta blockers, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors(ACEI), antimalarials, Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID), lithium, Interferons, as well of the acute withdrawal of systemic or potent topical corticosteroids [29][30][31][32][33] . Various case control and cross over studies shows that Beta Blockers as a major aggravating factor in patients who were hospitalized with psoriasis vulgaris 34,35,[36][37] .…”