Psoriasis and Nutrition
Could the Mediterranean Diet be a potential solution to the dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiome in patients with Psoriasis?
The Mediterranean Diet has been associated with lower disease activity in patients with Psoriasis, without the mechanism involved in this relationship being entirely clear. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of gastrointestinal dysbiosis in patients with psoriasis and its association with inflammation and immune dysfunction.
A recent meta-analysis of clinical studies shed light and demonstrated the presence of dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal microbiome in patients with Psoriasis. The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, seems to play a beneficial role in the gut microbiome. This change in the microbiome is a possible mechanism for the association of the Mediterranean diet with lower severity of psoriasis.
General
Although innovative molecules have been developed for the treatment of Psoriasis with excellent results, the role of the lifestyle of patients with psoriasis has not yet been clarified. Research has shown that patients often resort to dietary changes in an attempt to control their disease.
The role of the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet has been recognized in recent years for its anti-inflammatory role. It focuses on the consumption of antioxidant foods, such as vegetables, olive oil and legumes while limiting the use of meat and animal fat.
Consumption of the Mediterranean Diet has also been associated with cardiometabolic health and slowing down the decline of cognitive functions. Studies in patients with plaque psoriasis demonstrate its beneficial effect in reducing the severity of psoriatic disease. Specifically, in a cohort of 3557 patients with psoriasis, the group consuming the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower disease severity index (PASI).
Given its multiple positive consequences, a research effort has been made in recent years to determine the pathophysiological mechanism behind this association. Its effect on the gut microbiome is one of these hypotheses.
The gut microbiome
The gut microbiome is a population of microbes that live in the gastrointestinal tract and affect metabolism and immune function. Although the gastrointestinal microbiome has been known for many years, its association with diseases and the possibility of restoring its balance is a very interesting field of research. The consumption of specific foods can alter the microbiome, with positive consequences for human health or negative ones and a tendency for obesity and insulin resistance.
The gut microbiome in patients with plaque psoriasis
One of the first studies that investigated the gut microbiome in these patients was conducted in 2015 (Scher et al). Specifically, patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were found to have a lower diversity of gut microbes compared to the healthy population. Similar conclusions have been presented in subsequent studies, although scientific interest in this direction remains high.
Based on the dysbiosis observed in patients with Psoriasis and the changes in the intestinal microbiome that occur with the Mediterranean Diet, this could be a possible mechanism that pathogenetically explains the benefits in patients from the Mediterranean Diet.
Another important factor that must be taken into account is the patient’s ability to remain on this type of diet as studies have shown that changes in the intestinal microbiome were associated with patients under long-term stay on the Mediterranean Diet.
In conclusion
The Mediterranean Diet has numerous benefits including the association with lower psoriasis severity indices. The association between the gastrointestinal microbiome and the Mediterranean diet has been highlighted by numerous studies.
Therefore, the recommendation to adopt a Mediterranean Diet and to remain on it for a long time is a safe recommendation for patients with psoriasis who wish to change their healthy dietary habits in an effort to better regulate Psoriatic inflammation. Of course, these efforts should be carried out simultaneously with the appropriate medication for their disease and do not replace it in any case.
Source: Kranyak A, Haran K, Smith P, Johnson C, Liao W, Bhutani T. The Mediterranean Diet as a Potential Solution to the Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Psoriasis Patients. J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis.
