In winter, the days get shorter and there is little opportunity to get enough sun exposure. Yet sunlight is our main source of vitamin D and a large portion of the population has vitamn D deficiency. People who rarely spend time outdoors are particularly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. People with chronic illnesses can also have an increased risk of suffering from a vitamin D deficiency.
But does vitamin D also have an effect on atopic dermatitis? Patients often try to use natural remedies to improve the symptoms of their condition and support treatment. In recent years, vitamin D has been linked to various diseases, including skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
The role of vitamin D in the human body
Vitamin D is the common collective term for a group of fat-soluble vitamins known as calciferols. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) belong to this group. Although the term “vitamin ” is commonly used, vitamin D is in fact also a hormone. Vitamin D plays a role in many important metabolic processes in the body, including regulating the calcium balance and bone health. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium from the intestine and its incorporation into the bones. A deficiency can therefore impair bone stability in the long term.
Even with a healthy and varied diet, only 10-20% of the vitamin D requirement is absorbed through food. The body produces the remaining 80-90% with the help of sunlight. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, cholesterol stored in the skin is converted into vitamin D3 in a series of stages. Vitamin D3 then enters the liver and kidneys via the blood, where it is converted into its active form, calcitriol.
Blood tests can detect vitamin D deficiency
The vitamin D level in the body can be determined using a blood test. Values above 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood are considered ideal, values below 20 nanograms are diagnosed by physicians as vitamin D deficiency. In order to achieve the recommended value, it is recommended to take 1000 IU (international units) in deficiency cases. This corresponds to a dose of 25 micrograms and is taken once a day as a tablet or in the form of drops.
A vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself in many different ways. Tiredness, lethargy, headaches or frequent respiratory infections can indicate a deficiency. Long-term low levels can also increase the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.
Vitamin D intake in atopic dermatitis?
Some experts believe that sufficient vitamin D not only has positive effects on bone health and calcium balance, but also has a beneficial effect on the skin and its barrier function. Numerous studies in recent years have looked at the influence of vitamin D on various processes and organs in the body.
A few years ago, researchers from the USA screened scientific databases for clinical studies on vitamin D and dietary supplements for atopic dermatitis in order to gain an overview of the current study situation in relation to atopic dermatitis. They found three studies in particular that investigated the effect vitamin D intake on symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
In the studies, one group of patients received a daily vitamin D supplement, while another group received a daily placebo. The studies came to the conclusion that an additional intake of vitamin D was able to improve the severity of symptoms in the majority of participants. In another study, however, it was found that although there is a link between a vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease, symptoms do not clearly improve when the deficiency is compensated.
Current research evidence are not sufficient for medical recommendation
What all these studies have in common is that they only have a small number of participants and are therefore limited in the significance of their results. Although it is currently possible that vitamin D plays a role in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, larger studies with more patients are required in order to be able to make a clear statement.
People with atopic dermatitis who wish to investigate a possible vitamin D deficiency should discuss this with their treating physician and decide together whether it makes sense to take vitamin D complementary to their existing therapy. However, the medical data is not yet sufficient to be able to give a general medical recommendation for treating atopic dermatitis with vitamin D.
