TUESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of psoriasis is increased for female non-light beer drinkers, and the skin condition in turn increases mental health risks, according to studies in the August issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Another study in the same issue found that narrowband ultraviolet-B (NB-UV-B) can increase serum vitamin D levels while clearing psoriasis.
Abrar A. Qureshi, M.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues followed 82,869 women from 1991 to 2005 for the incidence of psoriasis. Psoriasis risk was 76 percent higher for women who drank five or more non-light beers a week compared to nondrinkers. However, light beer, wine, and liquor were not significantly associated with psoriasis risk. In a second study, Shanu Kohli Kurd, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues assessed 146,042 subjects with mild psoriasis, 3,956 subjects with severe psoriasis, and 766,950 healthy subjects, and found that the risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidality diagnoses were higher for those with psoriasis (hazard ratios, 1.39, 1.31, and 1.44, respectively).
In a third study, Caitriona Ryan, of St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and colleagues measured serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) in 30 psoriasis patients treated with NB-UV-B radiation during winter and 30 patients not treated. Vitamin D levels increased significantly in those treated, but there was no change in those untreated. All of those treated were vitamin D sufficient, while 75 percent of those untreated were vitamin D insufficient.
"In summary, this study shows that NB-UV-B effectively increases serum 25(OH)D levels while clearing psoriasis, the magnitude of increase being determined by the number of exposures," Ryan and colleagues conclude.
One author in the first study has served as a consultant to Amgen and Genentech. One author in the second study disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Several authors in the third study have financial ties to pharmaceutical and/or medical device companies.
Abstract - Qureshi
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Abstract - Kurd
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Abstract - Ryan
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