Positive Health Online

Abstract

SEVERIN and colleagues, Institut fur Strahlenbiologie der Unviersitat, Munster, Germany studied the role of antioxidative capacity in psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease .

Background

Methodology

Serum antioxidants were measured in sera of 33 patients with severe psoriasis and in 36 healthy control people. Total antioxidative capacity was measured.

Results

Several single antioxidative components were slightly elevated, including tocopherol, bilirubin and urate which was increased over the controls by about 33%. Other parameters, including total protein, thiol content and ascorbic acid did not differ from controls.

Conclusion

To the authors surprise, the total antioxidative activity was normal in sera from psoriasis patients, although certain components such as urate were elevated.

References

Severin E et al. Total antioxidative capacity is normal in sera from psoriasis patients despite elevated bilirubin, tocopherol and urate levels. Dermatology 198(4): 336-9. 1999.