The Role of Vitamin D in Psoriasis

Abstract

The function of vitamin D in regulating the inflammation, proliferation, and differentiation of keratinocytes has led to the use of topical vitamin D analogs for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Both calcipotriene, a synthetic form of vitamin D, and calcitriol, a naturally occurring form of vitamin D, are commonly prescribed topical agents that have demonstrated significant improvement in the treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis compared with vehicle alone. The most effective use of vitamin D analogs for plaque psoriasis has been in combination with topical corticosteroids. The low side-effect profile of these topical vitamin D agents also makes them an important therapeutic option for plaque psoriasis. This article summarizes the major studies involving topical vitamin D analogs for plaque psoriasis with suggestions for areas of future study.