Daily Supplement Shows Promise in Reducing Psoriasis Symptoms, Study Finds

A daily supplement costing approximately £1 could significantly reduce the visible signs and symptoms of psoriasis, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that pantethine, an extract derived from vitamin B5, appears to deactivate the immune cells responsible for driving the inflammatory skin condition. Patients participating in the study who took two pantethine pills daily for three months reported a dramatic improvement in their psoriasis, including reduced itching and pain.

The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggest a potential new avenue for treating psoriasis, a condition currently considered incurable. Psoriasis affects roughly one in 50 people in the UK and is characterized by an autoimmune response where immune cells mistakenly attack healthy skin tissue.

The study was conducted in two phases. Initially, researchers treated mice with pantethine, observing a reduction in psoriasis patches and inflammation compared to a control group. In the subsequent human trial, 24 participants who continued their standard topical treatments, such as steroid or vitamin D ointments, were given either pantethine or a placebo.

Participants taking 600mg of pantethine twice daily showed better scores on symptom severity tests and visible improvements in their skin after three months. Crucially, the study reported no significant side effects among those taking the supplement, although experts note that pantethine can occasionally cause gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, heartburn, itching, and stomach upset.

Psoriasis is a condition that affects many individuals, including public figures such as reality television star Kim Kardashian, who has openly shared her experiences with the condition.

While new treatments have emerged in recent years, many carry side effects like skin irritation, nausea, or increased susceptibility to infections. The pantethine supplement's reported lack of significant side effects in this trial is a notable finding.

Wei-Na Zhang, a study author from the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, described the results as 'encouraging' but emphasized the need for larger studies to confirm pantethine's efficacy for psoriasis treatment. Current treatments for psoriasis range from topical creams and light therapy to prescription medications for more severe cases.