Efficacy of fish oil and its components in the management of psoriasis: a systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 78; no. 10; pp. 827 - 840
• Main Authors: Chen, Xi, Hong, Seokgyeong, Sun, Xiaoying, Xu, Wenbin, Li, Hongjin, Ma, Tian, Zheng, Qi, Zhao, Huaibo, Zhou, Yaqiong, Qiang, Yan, Li, Bin, Li, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - adverse effects; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - adverse effects; Humans; Inflammation Mediators - immunology; Psoriasis - diet therapy; Psoriasis - immunology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; ω-3 PUFA; systematic review; psoriasis comorbidities; psoriasis; fish oil
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz098

Fish oil and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory properties, but their effect on psoriasis and its comorbidities remains inconclusive. The aim of this quantitative systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fish oil and its components in the treatment of psoriasis and its comorbidities. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to March 30, 2019. Randomized controlled trials were eligible for inclusion if they measured the effect of fish oil and its components in the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Eighteen randomized controlled trials involving 927 study participants were included. Monotherapy with fish oil or ω-3 PUFAs had no effect on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score (P = 0.47), lesion area (P = 0.34), or pruritus (P = 0.62). Fish oil or ω-3 PUFAs combined with conventional treatments, however, resulted in a decreased PASI score (mean difference [MD], -3.92; 95%CI, -6.15 to -1.69; P = 0.0006) and lesion area (MD, -30.00; 95%CI, -33.82 to -26.18; P < 0.0001). Safety evaluation suggested no between-group differences. Fish oil and its components reduced certain risk factors for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease in patients with psoriasis and also regulated several inflammatory mediators. Overall, when combined with conventional treatments, fish oil and its components may have beneficial effects on psoriasis and its comorbidities, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease. PROSPERO registration number CRD42019128631.