Treatment of psoriasis with calcipotriol and other vitamin D analogues.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in the context of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in this clinical trial publication.

The discovery of a high-affinity receptor for the bioactive form of vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]D3), in most skin cells has led to the finding of previously unknown effects of vitamin D on epidermal growth and on the skin immune system. 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits epidermal proliferation and promotes epidermal differentiation.

These properties provided the rationale for introducing 1,25(OH)2D3 in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some participants received a placebo instead of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, giving a reference point.

What Was Measured

In addition to 1,25(OH)2D3, the synthetic vitamin D3 analogues 1 alpha(OH)D3, 1,24(OH)2D3, and calcipotriol have undergone clinical evaluation.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Administration, Topical, Calcitriol, Dermatologic Agents, Psoriasis and Vitamin D.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The publication is from 1992 (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research.