Effectiveness and safety of dietary supplements in the adjunctive treatment of psoriasis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease, significantly impairs quality of life. Conventional treatments often pose safety risks or lack long-term efficacy. Dietary supplements show immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, but their adjunctive role in plaque psoriasis lacks a comprehensive comparison.
Methods: A network meta-analysis (NMA) of 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), involving 1,463 patients with plaque psoriasis, was conducted using eight international and Chinese databases up to March 3, 2025. Interventions included vitamin D, XP-828L, fish oil, selenium, probiotics, curcumin, and micronutrients. Primary outcomes were Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), physician global assessment (PGA), interleukins (IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-22), and adverse events. A frequentist NMA in Stata 17.0 used surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) to rank efficacy and safety.
Results: In 21 RCTs (n = 1,463), vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced PASI scores (mean difference = -3.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 6.38 to -0.20). XP-828L showed the highest probability of improving DLQI/PGA, and vitamin D + NB-UVB most consistently lowered IL-6/IL-17/IL-23; curcumin reduced IL-22. Adverse events were comparable across interventions (risk ratio 1.02, 95% CI 0.94-1.10). No supplement dominated across all outcomes, and overall certainty was low-to-moderate due to heterogeneity and…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,463 participants or records.
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