Can diet affect psoriasis severity? BSF-funded research sheds light

People with psoriasis often wonder whether the food they eat can play a role in developing the condition. To investigate this further, this study looked at the types of food that people in the UK eat on a regular basis, and how this relates to whether they have psoriasis or not. It also looked at whether certain foods and food groups are linked to more severe psoriasis. 

The study used information from over 500,000 people in the UK (UK Biobank), of whom 11,000 had psoriasis.

The study found that overall, there weren’t obvious differences between the diet of people who have psoriasis and those who don’t. It did find that those who ate a more healthy diet , with plenty of fruits and vegetables, were less likely to experience heart attacks and high cholesterol levels. 

Another finding was that people who ate less healthily, with less fruits, vegetables and nuts on a regular basis, were found to have more severe psoriasis. People with psoriasis who eat more processed meats (such as bacon, ham and sausages) were found to also have a higher risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease and high cholesterol.

Overall, the study suggests that a healthier diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts can be linked to less severe psoriasis and a lower chance of developing long-term health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Dr Thivi Maruthappu, Consultant Dermatologist, Barts Health NHS Trust

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Professor Wendy Hall, Professor of Nutritional Sciences in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Kings College London

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