Does the Mediterranean diet help with psoriasis symptoms?
Maybe. There has been very little research into the Mediterranean diet for psoriasis, so it's hard to say for sure.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains and fish. It tends to be low in red meat and dairy products.
Research into other medical conditions has found that the diet is associated with lower levels of inflammation in the body. Inflammation plays a role in many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, and it plays a role in psoriasis, too.
In one study, researchers asked people with mild to severe psoriasis about the foods they typically eat. The researchers asked the same questions to a group of people who didn't have psoriasis. Those with psoriasis were less likely to report eating a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet.
Another study looked at a large group of people who have been regularly answering health and diet questionnaires over several years. People who reported eating a diet most similar to the Mediterranean diet were less likely to have psoriasis.
These studies don't provide enough evidence to recommend changing your regular diet to the Mediterranean diet if you have psoriasis. But if you enjoy eating foods that are common to this diet, you might consider trying it.
Show References
- Barrea L, et al. Nutrition and psoriasis: Is there any association between the severity of the disease and adherence to the Mediterranean diet? Journal of Translational Medicine. 2015; doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0372-1.
- Phan C, et al. Association between Mediterranean anti-inflammatory dietary profile and severity of psoriasis: Results from the NutriNet-Sante cohort. JAMA Dermatology. 2018; doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.2127.
- Ford AR, et al. Dietary recommendations for adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis from the medical board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: A systematic review. JAMA Dermatology. 2018; doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1412.
April 01, 2020Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/expert-answers/is-the-mediterranean-diet-good-for-psoriasis/faq-20479896