Curcumin, Vitamin D, and XP-828L Show Promise as Adjunctive Psoriasis Treatments
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A new network meta-analysis suggests that curcumin, vitamin D, and XP-828L represent the moast promising dietary supplements for managing psoriasis, based on their potential mechanisms, consistent results, and generally favorable safety profiles.
Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the skin, often requires ongoing treatment. Traditional therapies can come with unwanted side effects,adherence challenges,and limited long-term effectiveness,prompting researchers to explore complementary and choice approaches,including dietary supplementation.
The study, led by Dr. Danping Chen of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, involved a rigorous network meta-analysis (NMA) – a method that compares and ranks the effectiveness and safety of multiple treatments together. Unlike previous reviews that focused on single supplements, this NMA evaluated a broad range of options, including vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, selenium, curcumin, micronutrients, and XP-828L.
Researchers systematically searched eight databases – including Chinese- and English-language sources like CNKI,PubMed,and the Cochrane Library – from their inception through March 2025,utilizing keywords related to psoriasis and various supplements. the team assessed the risk of bias in included studies using the Cochrane risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool, examining factors like randomization and data completeness.Ultimately,21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) encompassing 1463 psoriasis patients met the criteria for inclusion.
Key Findings: A Personalized Approach to Psoriasis Management
The analysis revealed nuanced findings, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all approach to supplementation is unlikely to be optimal. “No single dietary supplement optimally addresses all indicators in plaque psoriasis,” the researchers concluded.
Specifically,the NMA found:
- Vitamin D: Supplementation with vitamin D was associated with a statistically significant reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores,with a mean difference of −3.29. Moreover, combining vitamin D with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy demonstrated the most consistent reductions in inflammatory markers like IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23.
- XP-828L: This supplement showed the highest probability of improving scores on the Dermatology Life quality Index (DLQI) and physician global assessment (PGA), indicating a potential benefit for quality-of-life aspects of the disease.
- Curcumin: The data suggested a link between curcumin supplementation and decreased levels of IL-22, an inflammatory biomarker.
Importantly, the study found no significant differences in adverse event rates between the various interventions, with a pooled risk ratio of 1.02.
Limitations and Future Research
While promising, the findings are tempered by the overall certainty of evidence, which was deemed low to moderate due to heterogeneity and imprecision in the included studies. The researchers emphasize the need for larger, well-designed RCTs with standardized dosing and longer follow-up periods to confirm these results.
“these data support a personalized approach to psoriasis treatment supplementation,” the authors stated. they highlighted the complementary roles of these key supplements: vitamin D for systemic inflammation, XP-828L for quality of life, and curcumin for IL-22-linked inflammatory pathways.This NMA underscores the potential for integrating dietary supplements as an adjunctive therapy, tailored to individual patient needs and disease characteristics.
Reference:
Chen D, Yang J, Li Z, et al. Effectiveness and safety of dietary supplements in the adjunctive treatment of psoriasis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Nutr. 2025 Dec 11;12:1718828. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1718828. PMID: 41459063; PMCID: PMC12738169.
