Vitamin D the natural way.

[Fred]

Vitamin D is essential in helping psoriasis. It is in the group of fat-soluble secosteroids and is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it (as vitamin D3) when sun exposure is adequate (hence its nickname, the "sunshine vitamin").

Vitamin D is obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements. it is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], also known as calcidiol. The second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], also known as calcitriol.

So where do we get it?
#1 Your first place to look for a source of Vitamin D is the Sun. It’s free and exposure of 15 minutes three times a week is sufficient.

#2 Next you should be looking at foods. Good sources of Vitamin D in food are, Oily Fish including Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, Tuna. Eggs (Vit D is in the yolk). Beef Liver. Mushrooms. Some manufactured foods are also supplemented with Vitamin D including, Powdered Milk, Breakfast Cereal, and Margarine. (Look for it on the label)

#3 Light Therapies: Pure UVA sunbeds are supposedly ineffective for the treatment of psoriasis on their own so make sure you have UVB.

#4 Supplements: Most people should be able to get the vitamin D they need by eating a varied and balanced diet and by getting some sun. If you insist on taking vitamin D supplements, do not take too much and check with your GP for the maximum daily intake.

OK so how much do you need?
You do not need vitamin D in your diet every day. This is because any of the vitamin your body does not need immediately is stored for future use. The recommended upper dose for an average adult is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) daily.

Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)
Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)
Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)
Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)
A 60g egg provides 20 IU (0.33 IU/g)
Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)
Cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)
Mushrooms, 100-g portion (grilled) from about 14 IU (0.14 IU/g non-exposed) to about 500 IU (5 IU/g exposed to UV light).

Anyone with any more information on Vitamin D please add.

[Caroline]

Apart from the problem that it makes much difference what kind of vitamin D a person uses it is a more important issue of whether someone needs vitamin D3.
In the assessment and thus to establish a research, it is important to compare only patients who cholecalciferolspiegel proper vitamin in their blood.

The effect of the (dimethyl-) therapy (the treatment I follow) is minimal or even zero at low D3 levels and the lower the less chance of success. So it is advisable to determine the cholecalciferolspiegel and if it is too low (below 80 nmol / L) supplementation to apply.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease (correction oct 21t, 2021, psoriasis is NOT an autoimmune disease, but a disease where the immunesystem is triggered into a reaction, autoimmune diseases are characterised by antibodies, which are not there with Psoriasis), ie the immune system plays an important role and vitamin D3 is a key hormone what the function of the immune system is concerned. A deficiency can thus many autoimmune diseases exacerbate or even create. As a kid we got in the winter, a daily spoonful of cod liver oil "to strengthen our resistance." That practice was abolished, but today, according to modern ideas a significant part of the population has a too low cholecalciferolgehalte, including a shortage of sunlight and incorrect diet.

Dermatologists do not consider a low cholecalciferolspiegel as a cause of failure of treatment because it is not in their training, nor for fumaraatbehandeling. Curiously, however, many dermatologists prescribe it quite often for cream containing vitamin D3 (calcipotriol)! However, even  without determining the calciferolgehalte of the blood. With this external treatment, rarely something positive is seen and given the necessary effect on the immune system is hardly to be expected. However calciprotiol is often used, for the industry a nice course, such as all agents that have little effect and should be used for years.

Science is divided on the question if there is a lack of vitamin D. Several experts believe that the generally used daily amount of vitamin D3 is still too low, despite the fact that the recommended dosage in the last 10 years has been increased twice.
Last but not least, it appears that the determination of vitamin D3 in the blood can vary quite a laboratory, that is not easily comparable.
With a good investigation, the values must therefore all be determined in the same laboratory.

All in all, the outsider asks himself how it is possible that in this area is so much ignorance and so many uncertainties. It is almost unbelievable when you consider that vitamin D for nearly 100 years as a vitamin known. The answer is that this is a commercial reason, as many more in medicine. This is missed by the outsider, who may not even want to know.
Cholecalciferol FNA is inexpensive and has at least 80 years as drops without prescription at the pharmacy to get.
It is clear that vitamin D3 by the pharmaceutical industry does nothing to earn, so there is little investment in scientific research.
"It's the economy stupid" (statement by Bill Clinton).

[Caroline]

Vitamin D in the form of the sun is super. I always try to get what I can when sunbathing.
The only trick is to find a neat place where you cannot be seen.

[sjeanine]

I cant believe how much I've learned already from reading these posts on this forum! Thank you so much for making this site! When I've gone to the doctors I've seen, they havent really said anything about it...they just hand me a prescription...creams to try...which never work. So good to have found this site and I already copied and pasted the preferred diet you posted, as well as the foods to avoid...I'll stick to the diet as I want relief now!!!

Vitamin D is essential in helping psoriasis. It is in the group of fat-soluble secosteroids and is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it (as vitamin D3) when sun exposure is adequate (hence its nickname, the "sunshine vitamin").

Vitamin D is obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements. it is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], also known as calcidiol. The second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], also known as calcitriol.

So where do we get it?
#1 Your first place to look for a source of Vitamin D is the Sun. It’s free and exposure of 15 minutes three times a week is sufficient.

#2 Next you should be looking at foods. Good sources of Vitamin D in food are, Oily Fish including Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, Tuna. Eggs (Vit D is in the yolk). Beef Liver. Mushrooms. Some manufactured foods are also supplemented with Vitamin D including, Powdered Milk, Breakfast Cereal, and Margarine. (Look for it on the label)

#3 Light Therapies: Pure UVA sunbeds are supposedly ineffective for the treatment of psoriasis on their own so make sure you have UVB.

#4 Supplements: Most people should be able to get the vitamin D they need by eating a varied and balanced diet and by getting some sun. If you insist on taking vitamin D supplements, do not take too much and check with your GP for the maximum daily intake.

OK so how much do you need?
You do not need vitamin D in your diet every day. This is because any of the vitamin your body does not need immediately is stored for future use. The recommended upper dose for an average adult is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) daily.

Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)
Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)
Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)
Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)
A 60g egg provides 20 IU (0.33 IU/g)
Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)
Cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)
Mushrooms, 100-g portion (grilled) from about 14 IU (0.14 IU/g non-exposed) to about 500 IU (5 IU/g exposed to UV light).

Anyone with any more information on Vitamin D please add.

[eastbruce]

My father tried this but, same as before ! he also tried a lot of Antibiotics .
Next he will try Chinese traditional solution, hope useful.

[Rose883]

I am new to this site so I guess this is as good a place as any to let people know my history and the precursors to trying Vitamin D.

I have had psoriasis since I was 4 years old (yup, not usual...the Dr.s had fun studying me in the sixties). It has been quite a journey going from doctor's office to doctor's office. I used tar and cortizone and anthralin and psoralin and methytrexate and light boxes and sea water. My mother tried every remedy going from shark, seal, whale oil to white turkey meat only to butter from New Zealand to....you get the idea. I drank this kind of drink or that which was supposed to have some healing property. She brought me to this healer and that. The only thing I got from it was the profound feeling that I was defective and not human. Bless her for caring, but the best thing I have found is to simply accept myself with my anomalies.

As I have done so, I have altered my diet and activity. I have gained understanding and compassion for others coping with difficulties. I have also learned to pay attention to my skin as an indicator of the need to balance and improve my life better. It is a great meter for how much stress I am under.

I have found that eating a good diet (including lots of fish - I have gained fishing as a hobby now) helps keep my skin under control. I avoid all stimulants (no chocolate, caffeine, etc.), I avoid nightshades, only fish and nuts for protein (although I have not learned to avoid cheese that well yet), no fried foods, no sugar (I do use raw honey), whole grains only, few or no processed foods. Menopause caused a flareup, but I am getting things back in order by living the healthy eating principles more strictly. I also make sure that I am outside as much as possible being active in the sunshine (I walk 3-5 miles a day). The side effect of a diet like this is lots of energy, and not being able to eat out at fast food restaurants very much.

I am careful to study all that is given to me by anyone now. I have learned that most natural oils help with the lesions but do not remove it. I have also learned that some remedies have a backlash effect, meaning that the psoriasis comes back worse than ever if you do not increase the dosage or usage (some drugs and remedies will do this and will cause any number of side effects from being sick all the time to sending the individual on an emotional rollercoaster in addition to causing birth defects if you are the child-bearing type). Do your own homework and decide about the risks you will take.

I tried a bit of Vitamin D to see if that helps, as I had not heard or read of any side effects to this vitamin. I am kind of using myself as my own personal 'guinea pig' in this. It seemed to take a while to build up in my system. I saw when I didn't take it that there was a difference, but it took a while to show up. To those who are using it, does it build up in the system (are my personal experiences had by others)? Is that a normal reaction? I am going back to using it now. I am taking 2000 IU per day (one little D3 tablet). I don't know if that is a lot or not. Anyone have any backlash effects or has anyone had to increase the dosage to maintain effectiveness?

I guess that's it for now. Thank you for this forum where no one is trying to sell me anymore snake oil! I am grateful I get to hear and explore some of the more natural ways of living and being healthy with my skin.

[Kat]

Well, I have been on a Vitamin supplement for a couple of years now. I take one Vit D 50,000 IU D2 tablet once per week. This is something I plan to discuss with my gp next week as I am now getting UVB light therapy. I also take a vit B supplement everyday. I'm not sure why my Vit D is always so low when the doc does blood tests as I should be spending enough time outside to meet the required amount. As soon as I quit taking the supplement, my levels go low again so I'm not quite sure why that is.

[Fred]

I am going back to using it now. I am taking 2000 IU per day (one little D3 tablet). I don't know if that is a lot or not.

The recommended upper dose for an average adult is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) daily. See first post in this thread.

[Kat]

I am going back to using it now. I am taking 2000 IU per day (one little D3 tablet). I don't know if that is a lot or not.

The recommended upper dose for an average adult is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) daily. See first post in this thread.

Since joining here I had begin to question the amount of my supplement (for a short time I was taking the tablets daily!) After looking around the internet, I guess quite a few people with joint pain and low levels of Vit D are on the same supplement I am at once per week. 50,000 IU sounds like a large amount to me and with adding the light therapy, it's definitely something I plan to ask the doc about on Monday.

[Munsterace]

This is an interesting one. I did not even consider my complete lack of Sun as a possible contributor to my psoriasis! I had been living in Sunny Sydney Australia for almost 6 years and have now moved back home to Not-so-Sunny Ireland. 6 months after returning I got my first real outbreak of p. I also work in an office enviro, go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. The only chance of sunshine I might get is weekend or lunch times and more often than not I spend those indoor also. Might need to start going on a sun hol every few weeks

Might give a Vit D supplement a try first though.