Consume Fatty Fish
The most efficient way to get enough vitamin D in your diet is by eating fatty fish, like salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, and eel. Canned light tuna, for example, packs about 150 IU of vitamin D for every four ounces. According to the Arthritis Foundation, omega-3 fats can help ease joint swelling and pain by tamping down inflammation.
Fatty fish can be high in mercury, though, so if you’re pregnant or nursing, speak to your doctor about how many servings per week you can safely consume.
Drink Milk
An 8 oz glass of milk provides 100 to 125 IU of vitamin D, whether it’s nonfat, reduced-fat, or whole milk — so opt for the healthier low-fat or nonfat choices. Just read the label on the carton, because the amount of vitamin D in an 8 oz serving can vary.
Switch to Fortified Orange Juice
Oranges are known as a great source of vitamin C. But when you’re buying orange juice, look for brands that are fortified with vitamin D; an 8 oz glass should give you around 100 IU. Be careful to eat them in moderation if you are sensitive to dietary cholesterol, says the American Heart Association. Start Your Day With Fortified Cereal
Fortified cereal is another easy way to get your daily fill of vitamin D. Look for a low-calorie fortified hot or cold cereal, and read the package label to determine how much vitamin D you will get and what’s considered a serving size.
Just be sure not to turn a vitamin deficiency into vitamin overload. Try a Vitamin D Ointment
Vitamin D topical ointments are often used to counteract the abnormally fast regeneration of skin cells that can lead to psoriasis plaques. Prescription ointments or creams that contains active or synthetic vitamin D3 include Dovonex (calcipotriene) and Vectical (calcitriol), says the NPF.
“If you put something on the skin that slows growth, it may cause the plaques to become thinner and less scaly,” says Richard Gallo, MD, PhD, the founding chairman of the dermatology department at the University of California in San Diego. Apply a thin layer to psoriasis plaques once or twice a day, or as recommended by your doctor. Most people notice an improvement after using them for two weeks, according to the American Academy of Dematology.
What Is Vitamin D?
There is evidence that vitamin D helps to maintain and support the health of: bones and teeth
the immune system
the brain
the nervous system
insulin levels
lung function
cardiovascular health Scientists have also found links between vitamin D and some skin conditions, including psoriasis. When sunlight falls on the skin, the body produces vitamin D. The skin appears to play a role in the synthesis of vitamin D. Scientists describe this interaction as “complex.” They still do not understand the relationship fully.
J Dermatolog Treat; Epub 2017 Aug 29; Jarrett, Et Al
Ot recommended as a treatment for mild psoriasis, according to a recent study.
Participants with psoriasis in a large, randomized, controlled trial examining the effect of vitamin D 3 supplementation in adults aged 50-84 years, participated in a psoriasis sub-study over 12 months. The primary outcome was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and secondary outcomes were Physicians Global Assessment (PGA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI). Researchers found:
There was no significant difference at baseline between the 2 groups.
There were no significant differences between the groups in all of the psoriasis outcome measures.