In a study from Northwestern Medicine, scientists found that high-dose oral vitamin D reduced skin inflammation and increased immune protection in patients with chemical-induced skin rashes.
They also discovered a new biomarker that may help doctors identify which patients have an increased risk of developing severe allergic reactions to treatments including topical chemotherapy.
The team says oral vitamin D is a safe and readily available over-the-counter nutritional supplement with anti-inflammatory and immunoprotective properties while boasting no adverse effects
This study also provides a new avenue of exploration for druggable targets to both reduce the consequences of injury and enhance wound healing.
In the study, the team analyzed skin tissue samples from 28 healthy participants whose inner arm skin was exposed to a test amount of topical nitrogen mustard, an FDA-approved medication with known chemical irritant properties, to produce an experimental rash.
Participants then received either a high-dose oral vitamin D intervention or a placebo.
The team found overall, skin tissue in participants that received vitamin D supplements demonstrated less irritation and inflammation than the placebo group.
Subsequent analyses of skin tissue and blood samples from the vitamin D group also revealed the reduction of the pro-inflammatory IL-17 signaling pathway.
This establishes IL-17 signaling as a promising biomarker, which is important because severe reactions to topical chemotherapy and other medications can either delay or prevent patients from receiving adequate treatment.
This biomarker may help identify patients at-risk for developing a severe allergic response, allowing clinicians to make early adjustments to the treatment regimen or implement supportive therapies.
The researchers suggest that giving patients vitamin D when they begin medical treatment may suppress these severe reactions.
Moving forward, the team wants to further investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of oral vitamin D supplements in treating rashes caused by other types of treatments and medications.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about eating fish linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, and Vitamin B3 could help prevent skin cancers.
If you care about health, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
The study was conducted by Kurt Lu et al and published in JCI Insight.
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