DHA Beneficial to Eczema

BERLINA recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be beneficial to atopic eczema (2008;158(4):786-92) (DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08430.x). The randomized, double blind, controlled trial administered 5.4 g/d of DHA or an isoenergetic control of saturated fatty acids for eight weeks to 53 patients, aged 18 to 40 years old, who were suffering from atopic eczema. The DHA-treated group had a significant clinical improvement of atopic eczema in terms of a decreased SCORAD (severity scoring of atopic dermatitis). A significant reduction of anti-CD40/interleukin 4-mediated IgE synthesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected in the DHA group only. Supplementation led to a modulated activation status of PBMC in both groups. The DHA group showed an increase of plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and a decrease in the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio.