Positive Health Online

Abstract

KHARAEVA and COLLEAGUES, Immunology Department, Medical University, Nal'chik, Russian Federation studied clinical effects of antioxidant supplementation in patients with severe forms of psoriasis.

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical effects of supplementation with antioxidants to patients with severe erythrodermic (EP) and arthropathic (PsA) forms of psoriasis.

Methodology

Fifty-eight patients were hospitalized, treated by conventional protocols, and randomly assigned to four groups. Groups EP1 and PsA1 were supplemented with coenzyme Q(10) (ubiquinone acetate, 50 mg/d), vitamin E (natural alpha-tocopherol, 50 mg/d), and selenium (aspartate salt, 48 mug/d) dissolved in soy lecithin for 30-35 d. Groups EP2 and PsA2 (placebo) received soy lecithin. Clinical conditions were assessed by severity parameters. Markers of oxidative stress included superoxide production, copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in the circulating granulocytes, in the affected epidermis, and plasma levels of nitrites/nitrates.

Results

At baseline patients had an increased superoxide release from granulocytes (10.0 +/- 0.5, 2.9 +/- 0.2, and 1.5 +/- 0.1 nmol/L per 10(6) cells/h for EP, PsA, and donors, respectively), increased copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in granulocytes in EP patients and decreased in PsA patients, decreased activity of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (0.3 +/- 0.0, 1.8 +/- 0.1, and 2.2 +/- 0.2 U/mg protein for EP, PsA, and donors, respectively), and altered activity of catalase in psoriatic epidermis. Plasma levels of nitrites/nitrates were greater than normal in psoriatic patients. Supplementation resulted in significant improvement of clinical conditions, which corresponded to the faster versus placebo normalization of the oxidative stress markers.

Conclusion

Supplementation with antioxidants coenzyme Q(10), vitamin E, and selenium could be feasible for the management of patients with severe forms of psoriasis.

References

Kharaeva Z, Gostova E, De Luca C, Raskovic D and Korkina L. Clinical and biochemical effects of coenzyme Q(10), vitamin E, and selenium supplementation to psoriasis patients. Nutrition, 25(3): 295-302. Mar 2009.