Positive Health Online

Abstract

TSOURELI-NIKITA and colleagues, Institute of Dermosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy, tlotti@unifi.it, examined the effects of vitamin E supplementation on symptoms and blood immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in subjects with atopic dermatitis .

Background

The antioxidant vitamin alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) can boost immune function and modify inflammatory and allergic immune responses . IgE levels are a characteristic marker of allergic activity and susceptibility in atopic individuals.

Methodology

Subjects were 96 individuals suffering from atopic dermatitis . In a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind study, subjects received daily supplementation with either 400 IU vitamin E of natural origin (n=50) or placebo supplements (n=46) for 8 months . The researchers made the following measurements at baseline and every 15 days during the study: complete blood count, serum IgE levels, radioallergosorbent (RAST) score, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and biochemical analyses. Effects on symptoms were evaluated from a questionnaire completed by the subjects at the end of the study.

Results

Of the 50 patients in the vitamin E group, 23 (46%) showed 'great improvement' in their symptoms and seven (14%) had almost complete remission of their dermatitis; this compared with only one of the 46 patients in the placebo group (2.2%) who showed 'great improvement' and none displaying complete remission . 10 (20%) patients in the vitamin E group versus four (8.7%) in the placebo group showed 'slight improvement', six versus five showed 'no change', and only four (8%) in the vitamin E group worsened compared with 36 (78.3%) in the placebo group. Less progression of atopic dermatitis occurred among females compared with males, and more females (five versus two) showed almost complete remission . Serum IgE levels varied greatly over the 8 months of the study, from 1005-490 IU/ml and 1239-812 IU/ml in the vitamin E and placebo groups respectively. In subjects in the vitamin E group who showed great improvement or near remission of atopic dermatitis, serum IgE levels decreased by 62% from baseline; in similar subjects in the placebo group, IgE levels decreased by 34.4% . No complications or adverse events were reported in either treatment group. Improvements in dermatitis included: remarkable improvements in facial redness and scaling, reduced itching (resulting in healing of lesions) and increased appearance of 'normal' skin .

Conclusion

The results demonstrated associations between vitamin E intake, IgE levels and signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis and suggest that vitamin E may be an extremely beneficial treatment for the condition.

References

Tsoureli-Nikita E et al. Evaluation of dietary intake of vitamin E in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a study of the clinical course and evaluation of the immunoglobulin E serum levels. International Journal of Dermatology 41 (3): 146-50. Mar 2002.

Comment

The results of the above research are extremely encouraging, especially since conditions such as dermatitis are both extremely distressing as well as intractable to many conventional and alternative treatment approaches. For a graphic description of the agonies of eczema, readers are urged to read the feature by Jennifer Worth on page 34.