Modified Intermittent Fasting in Psoriasis Trial: a Randomized Controlled Open Crossover Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effects of a Dietary Intervention on the Gut-skin Axis in Patients with Psoriasis
Modified Intermittent Fasting in Psoriasis Trial: a Randomized Controlled Open Crossover Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effects of a Dietary Intervention on the Gut-skin Axis in Patients with Psoriasis
The complexity of psoriasis is partially affected by dietary effects, and some diets have shown to be beneficial in psoriasis. Intermittent fasting has been shown to improve many of these disturbances, even inflammatory parameters such as TNF and CRP. Individuals with psoriasis have been reported to have impaired intestinal integrity and it has been suggested that gut health affects skin health, pointing towards a gut-skin axis. Understanding how dietary lifestyles can affect epithelial lineages such as the skin and gut, will greatly improve our understanding on the development of psoriasis. Modified intermittent fasting (MIF) of 2 non-consecutive days has shown to have positive metabolic effects, yet its effect on gut and skin remains underexplored.
To study the role of gut health, more specifically the intestinal barrier, in individuals with psoriasis and the effects of fasting on both organs in a prospective cohort cross-over study. The investigators will test whether MIF can improve (i) skin lesions (clinical and molecular level), (ii) intestinal integrity markers such as zonulin, IFABP and sCD14, and (iii) the timing of these improvements. As such, it can be determined whether fasting benefits psoriasis and gut health. MIF will consist of a limited calorie uptake of 500 kcal for 2 days a week. The remaining days of the week are as usual. Gut and skin health will be tested at the molecular level during 12 weeks with another crossover of 12 weeks (alternating between MIF and usual diet).
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