For patients with psoriasis, long-term weight loss had lasting beneficial effects on the severity of psoriasis, according to a study published in the American Society of Nutrition.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, conducted a prospective observational follow-up study on patients from a previous randomized trial (n=60) to investigate the long-term effects of weight loss in psoriasis. The earlier study involved patients with psoriasis who were assigned to a control group or a low-energy diet (LED) group. The current study included a 48-week follow-up period totaling a 64-week weight-loss program, which included an initial 16-week randomized phase with an LED for 8 weeks and then 8 weeks of normal food intake combined with two LED products per day. Following the randomization phase, the control group received the same 8 + 8 week LED intervention. The main outcome was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI); the secondary outcome was the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
Of the 56 patients who were eligible, 32 completed the present study. The mean weight loss after the 16-week LED-only period was –15.0kg (95% CI: –16.6kg, –13.4kg). Also, the PASI and DLQI were reduced by –2.3 (95% CI: –3.1, –1.5) and –2.3 (95% CI: –3.2, –1.4), respectively. At Week 64, the mean weight loss compared to baseline was –10.1kg (95% CI: –12.0kg, –8.1kg); PASI was maintained at –2.9 (95% CI: –3.9, –1.9) and DLQI was maintained at –1.9 (95% CI: –3.0, –0.9).
The findings support that long-term weight loss in psoriasis patients has sustained positive effects with regards to psoriasis severity.
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