A pilot study assessing the effect of prolonged administration of high daily doses of vitamin D on the clinical course of vitiligo and psoriasis
Finamor DC, Sinigaglia-Coimbra R, et al, Dermatoendocrinol, 2013 Jan 1; 5(1): 222-34.
Summary: In a study involving 9 patients with psoriasis and 16 patients with vitiligo, supplementation with vitamin D3 (35,000 IU/d) for a period of 6 months, in association with a low-calcium diet (avoiding dairy and calcium-enriched foods like oat, rice, or soy 'milk') and hydration (at least 2.5 L per day) was found to be associated with beneficial effects in both vitiligo and psoriasis patients. At baseline, all patients had low vitamin D status (serum 25(OH)D3 less than or equal to 30 ng/mL) and after treatment, 25(OH)D3 levels significantly increased from 14.9 to 106.3 ng/mL and from 18.4 to 132.5 ng/mL, and PTH levels significantly decreased from 57.8 to 28.9 pg/mL, in patients with psoriasis and vitiligo, respectively. Results of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) significantly improved in all 9 patients with psoriasis and 14 of the 16 patients with vitiligo were found to have 25-75% repigmentation. The authors conclude, "High-dose vitamin D3 therapy may be effective and safe for vitiligo and psoriasis patients."