While there is good scientific evidence backing up the fact that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can help slow or even prevent heart disease, but does fish oil help the symptoms of psoriatic disease?
This evidence is less pronounced.
A study in 2014 looked at a review of studies of different nutritional supplements in the treatment of psoriasis. Four were reviewed, and out of all of them, omega-3s were the most beneficial. Here is what the study found:
First: High doses produce the best results. This was found in two separate trials, and omega-3 supplements improved the scaling (both redness and thickness) in both guttate and plaque psoriasis. However, these trials both administered omega-3 via an IV – much more than the amount found in an average supplement. In studies using lower amounts of omega-3, some studies failed to show benefit over placebo, but some did show improved skin after about three months of use
Second: While supplements contain more omega-3 than salmon or other foods, the body is better equipped to absorb and use natural omega-3 from food.
So, based on this research, it seems like the jury is still out on the use of omega-3 for psoriasis, and its efficacy might just be largely dependent on the particular patient.
With that being said, I started taking fish oil supplements about two months ago after reading some online reviews about their therapeutic properties for psoriasis. It might be a coincidence, but my skin did improve drastically not far after starting to take these.
To read more about the formal studies of omega-3 in psoriasis (originally published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD)), click here!
