02.20.14
High-dose vitamin D3 (4,000 IU/day) may be a safe and beneficial immunomodulator for patients with chronic hives (urticaria), according to research published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
In this prospective, double-blinded, single-center study, 42 subjects with chronic urticaria were randomized to high (4,000 IU/d) or low (600 IU/d) vitamin D3 supplementation for 12 weeks. All subjects were provided with a standardized triple-drug therapy (cetirizine, ranitidine and montelukast) and a written action plan. Data on Urticaria Symptom Severity (USS) scores, medication use, blood for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and safety measurements were collected.
Results showed triple-drug therapy decreased total USS scores by 33% in the first week. There was a further significant decrease (40%) in total USS scores in the high, but not low, vitamin D3 treatment group by week 12.
Compared with low treatment, the high treatment group demonstrated a trend (P = .052) toward lower total USS scores at week 12, which was driven by significant decreases in body distribution and number of days with hives. Beneficial trends for sleep quality and pruritus scores were observed with high vitamin D3. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased with high vitamin D3 supplementation, but there was no correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and USS scores. There was no difference in allergy medication use between groups. No adverse events occurred.
Researchers concluded add-on therapy with high-dose vitamin D3 (4,000 IU/d) could be considered a safe and potentially beneficial immunomodulator in patients with chronic urticaria.
In this prospective, double-blinded, single-center study, 42 subjects with chronic urticaria were randomized to high (4,000 IU/d) or low (600 IU/d) vitamin D3 supplementation for 12 weeks. All subjects were provided with a standardized triple-drug therapy (cetirizine, ranitidine and montelukast) and a written action plan. Data on Urticaria Symptom Severity (USS) scores, medication use, blood for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and safety measurements were collected.
Results showed triple-drug therapy decreased total USS scores by 33% in the first week. There was a further significant decrease (40%) in total USS scores in the high, but not low, vitamin D3 treatment group by week 12.
Compared with low treatment, the high treatment group demonstrated a trend (P = .052) toward lower total USS scores at week 12, which was driven by significant decreases in body distribution and number of days with hives. Beneficial trends for sleep quality and pruritus scores were observed with high vitamin D3. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased with high vitamin D3 supplementation, but there was no correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and USS scores. There was no difference in allergy medication use between groups. No adverse events occurred.
Researchers concluded add-on therapy with high-dose vitamin D3 (4,000 IU/d) could be considered a safe and potentially beneficial immunomodulator in patients with chronic urticaria.