Latest research by King’s College London reveals that a plant-rich, low saturated-fat diet is associated with reduced psoriasis severity, providing potential new dietary strategies to manage the skin condition.
New research by King’s College London suggests that a plant-rich diet low in saturated fats could significantly alleviate the severity of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting millions worldwide.
Led by Sylvia Zanesco, a doctoral student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London, the study analyzed the correlation between diet quality and psoriasis severity among 257 adults who completed an online survey.
The participants’ adherence to various diet quality scores, such as the Mediterranean Diet Score, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index, was assessed using a detailed food frequency questionnaire. Psoriasis severity was self-assessed through a validated questionnaire.
Key findings reveal that individuals with low adherence to the DASH diet and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index reported higher psoriasis severity.
The study found that greater consumption of red and processed meats correlated with more severe psoriasis, while higher intakes of fruits, nuts and legumes were associated with less severe symptoms, though this was influenced by participants’ body mass index (BMI).
The research, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is part of the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating (APPLE) project and was funded by the Psoriasis Association.
“Our findings point to the potential benefits of dietary interventions in improving patient outcomes,” Zanesco said in a news release. “Given the impact of psoriasis on physical and psychological well-being, incorporating dietary assessments into routine care could offer patients additional support in managing their condition.”
Supplementing standard medical treatments with dietary strategies could prove transformative for those enduring the physical and emotional toll of psoriasis.
The DASH diet, initially designed to lower blood pressure, emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats while reducing salt, sugar and saturated fats intake.
Similarly, a high Healthy Plant-based Diet Index marks a dietary pattern rich in nutritious plant foods and low in unhealthy plant and animal foods.
Senior author Wendy Hall, a professor of nutritional sciences at King’s College London, emphasized the broad implications of these findings.
“This research brings much-needed evidence that there may be a role for dietary advice, alongside standard clinical care, in managing symptoms of psoriasis,” she said in the news release. “Our next steps will be to explore whether diets rich in healthy plant foods can reduce symptoms of psoriasis in a controlled clinical trial.”
Ensuring a comprehensive analysis, the study accounted for various confounding factors, such as age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, energy intake and mental health.
Dr. Thivi Maruthappu, a consultant dermatologist and key investigator on the study, highlighted current patient concerns, adding: “People with psoriasis often ask about how the food they eat affects their skin, and whether changing their diet helps; this research brings us closer to answering these important questions.”
The study contributes to the growing evidence supporting dietary modification as a complementary approach to managing psoriasis, potentially reducing disease severity and improving the quality of life for many.