Placebo-controlled trial of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis

Treatment of atopic dermatitis with essential fatty acids remains controversial. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was done to investigate the response of patients with atopic dermatitis to essential fatty acid supplements. Patients with atopic dermatitis were randomised to re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 1993-06, Vol.341 (8860), p.1557-1560
Main Authors: Berth-Jones, J., Graham-Brown, R.A.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Allergic diseases
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use
Atopic dermatitis
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical trials
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy
Double-Blind Method
Drug Therapy, Combination
Eczema
Evening primrose oil
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Essential - administration & dosage
Fatty Acids, Essential - therapeutic use
Female
Fish oils
Fish Oils - administration & dosage
Fish Oils - therapeutic use
gamma-Linolenic Acid
Humans
Immunopathology
Linoleic Acids
Lipids
Male
Medical research
Medical sciences
Oils & fats
Patients
Plant Oils
Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies
Supplements
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Summary:Treatment of atopic dermatitis with essential fatty acids remains controversial. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was done to investigate the response of patients with atopic dermatitis to essential fatty acid supplements. Patients with atopic dermatitis were randomised to receive evening primrose oil, evening primrose oil and fish oil, or placebo for 16 weeks. Disease activity was monitored by clinical severity scores recorded by the investigator, topical steroid requirement, and symptom scores recorded by subjects. Of 123 subjects recruited, 102 completed the treatment period. No improvement with active treatment was demonstrated. Our study, which avoided the methodological and analytical problems of previous studies, found no effect of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/0140-6736(93)90697-F