DHA shows promise for psoriasisEffects of dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated ethyl ester lipids (Angiosan) in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
We evaluated the impact of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation, alongside eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in patients suffering from chronic, stable psoriasis. This study involved 80 participants, 34 of whom also had psoriatic arthritis, and they were given specific doses of fatty acid ethyl esters for a period of eight weeks.
The results showed a noteworthy decrease in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores, which went from an average of 3.56 before treatment to 1.24 after eight weeks. This significant reduction illustrates the potential effectiveness of DHA for managing symptoms of psoriasis, such as itching and plaque scaling.
It was particularly encouraging to see that seven patients were completely healed, with many others experiencing significant improvement. The majority of those with psoriatic arthritis reported feeling less joint pain during the study. Through our observations, it became clear that polyunsaturated ethyl ester lipids, like DHA, may serve as a valuable complement to traditional therapies for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
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Eicosapentaenoic acid benefits psoriasisn-3 fatty acids in psoriasis.
We assessed the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, on psoriasis through intravenous administration in a series of studies. The investigation aimed to understand whether replacing arachidonic acid, which has pro-inflammatory properties, with EPA could be beneficial for patients suffering from psoriasis.
Participants received daily infusions of either an EPA-based lipid emulsion or a conventional n-6 lipid emulsion. Throughout the studies, we closely monitored the clinical progression of psoriasis, along with specific inflammatory markers in the blood.
Our findings were notable: the group receiving the n-3 fatty acid treatment showed a significantly higher response rate. We observed a remarkable tenfold increase in specific products derived from neutrophils, indicating enhanced benefits from EPA. Additionally, plasma levels of EPA rose swiftly within just a few days of treatment.
In summary, our research suggests that intravenous administration of n-3 fatty acids effectively reduces psoriasis symptoms, likely due to alterations in inflammatory processes. This rapid response contrasts sharply with slower improvements seen with oral supplementation of fatty acids.
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Rapid improvement in psoriasisA double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of n-3 fatty acid based lipid infusion in acute, extended guttate psoriasis. Rapid improvement of clinical manifestations and changes in neutrophil leukotriene profile.
We explored the effectiveness of a specialized treatment regimen involving docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as part of an n-3 fatty acid lipid infusion for patients suffering from acute guttate psoriasis. This study included twenty hospitalized individuals with significant skin involvement and was conducted in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled manner to ensure reliable results.
Participants received either a daily infusion of the n-3 fatty acid emulsion, which contained DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or a conventional n-6 lipid emulsion lacking significant benefits from omega-3s. We recorded clinical changes over ten days, assessing factors such as skin redness, swelling, and peeling, along with patients' subjective feelings about their symptoms.
The results were telling: those receiving the n-3 infusion showed a remarkable improvement in their psoriasis symptoms—between 45% and 76%—within just ten days. In contrast, the n-6 group experienced only moderate improvement, around 16-25%. Furthermore, we noted significant changes in the patients' immune response. The n-3 group had an increased production of beneficial leukotriene products, while inflammatory markers decreased, suggesting a positive modulation of the body's inflammatory response by DHA and EPA.
Overall, our investigation highlights a potential rapid benefit of using n-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, in treating acute psoriasis. This indicates a promising avenue for improving the lives of those affected by this challenging skin condition.
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DHA's potential in psoriasis treatmentGuinea pig epidermis generates putative anti-inflammatory metabolites from fish oil polyunsaturated fatty acids.
We explored how docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—a key component of fish oil—could have a positive impact on psoriasis, a skin condition known for its inflammation and excessive skin cell growth. The study focused on how DHA is metabolized in guinea pig skin and its potential to influence inflammatory processes associated with this condition.
During our research, we incubated guinea pig skin enzyme preparations with two types of fatty acids from fish oil, namely eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA. We found that these fatty acids get converted into specific metabolites that might help regulate unwanted inflammation. Notably, the metabolites 15-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid and 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid emerged from this conversion and showed promise as inhibitors of an enzyme linked to the production of inflammatory compounds.
The findings indicated that these metabolites effectively inhibit the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase, which is responsible for producing LTB4—a molecule linked to the worsening of psoriasis. The inhibitory effects observed give us insight into a possible mechanism through which DHA from fish oil could help alleviate symptoms of this challenging skin disorder. This metabolic pathway opens up avenues for future research into the therapeutic potential of DHA for managing psoriasis and similar inflammatory conditions.
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EPA benefits psoriatic skin healthEicosapentaenoic Acid Influences the Lipid Profile of an In Vitro Psoriatic Skin Model Produced with T Cells.
We aimed to understand how eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) affects psoriasis, a skin condition known for causing redness, irritation, and thickened skin. By creating skin models that reflect both healthy and psoriatic conditions, we were able to assess the impact of EPA directly on lipid profiles—a key factor in skin health.
Our research revealed that in psoriatic skin models, there was a notable increase in certain fatty acids linked to inflammation, such as arachidonic acid (AA) and linoleic acid (LA). However, when we supplemented the media with EPA, we noticed a significant shift. The levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), rose in both epidermal and dermal tissues.
More importantly, the addition of EPA helped to balance the production of lipid mediators in the skin. We observed increases in several anti-inflammatory molecules, such as prostaglandin E (PGE) and 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (12-HEPE), indicating a move toward a more stable and healthier skin environment. These results suggest that EPA could play an important role in managing psoriasis by promoting a healthier lipid balance in the skin, potentially easing symptoms and encouraging skin healing.
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