Vitamin D Proves Relief for Chronic Hives

There may be relief for individuals with chronic hives, a skin condition currently without a cure or many effective treatment options. A study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center showed that vitamin D, used as an add-on therapy, could provide relief to patients suffering from hives.

Chronic hives is an allergic skin condition that consists of a series of red, itchy welts on the skin and sometimes swelling. Those suffering from the condition may see symptoms daily that can last longer than six weeks, even years in some cases, according to a press release announcing the findings.

The two-year study, led by Dr. Jill Poole, an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, was published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It documented the role of over-the-counter vitamin D3 supplements in the treatment of chronic hives.

Over a 12 week study period, 38 participants took a triple-drug combination of allergy medications for hives along with one vitamin D3 tablet. Half the patients were administered 600 IUs of vitamin D3 while the other half received 4000 IUs.

After one week, researchers found that the severity of symptoms dropped by 33 percent in both groups, showing no differentiation between the vitamin D3 groups. However, by the end of three months, the group taking the high dose of vitamin D3 had showed an addition drop in symptom severity of 40 percent. This is compared to the low level vitamin D3 group which showed no further improvement after the initial effects observed after one week.

"We consider the results in patients a significant improvement," Dr. Poole said. "This higher dosing of readily available vitamin D3 shows promise without adverse effects. Vitamin D3 could be considered a safe and potentially beneficial therapy.

"It was not a cure, but it showed benefit when added to anti-allergy medications. Patients taking the higher dose had less severe hives - they didn't have as many hives and had a decrease in the number of days a week they had hives," she added.

Patients in the study ranged from having experienced severe hives for 5 to 20 years. They had undergone varied past therapies.

While scientists currently don't understand what causes hives, allergy and autoimmune reactions are thought to play a role. While no cure is available, some treatment methods have proved to be somewhat effective.

"Standard therapy is to control symptoms with antihistamines and other allergy medications," Dr. Poole said. "Some are costly and can pose substantial side effects."