Efficacy and safety of active vitamin D supplementation in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients

Abstract

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin disorder affecting negatively patients’ lives. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be associated to many allergic skin disorders.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D and CSU and to assess the efficacy and safety of active vitamin D in management of CSU.

Methods

The study was conducted on 77 patients with CSU and 67 healthy controls, then the 77 CSU patients were randomized to either the study group that received 0.25 µg alfacalcidol daily or the placebo group that received oral placebo for 12 weeks.

Results

Serum 25(OH) D was significantly lower in CSU as compared to healthy controls and was negatively correlated to the urticarial severity. After alfacalcidol administration, the study group showed significant higher level of 25(OH) D compared to the placebo group. In addition, the mean serum level of IL6, hsCRP and TNFα significantly decreased in the study group in comparison to the placebo group and as compared to their baseline results.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is more common in CSU patients as compared to healthy people and hence, alfacalcidol might have a beneficial role as add on therapy in CSU management with no reported side effects.

Keywords:

• Chronic spontaneous urticaria
• active vitamin D
• interleukin 6
• tumor necrosis factor alpha

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge all the patients who participated in this study, this research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. No financial disclosures were reported by the authors of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No source of funding from any organization.