Dried Fruit Intake Linked to Benefits in Psoriasis Treatment

Increased intake of dried fruits is associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis, highlighting their potential as a complementary nutritional therapy, according to a new study.¹

Incorporating dried fruits into the diet may offer protective benefits against psoriasis, a study finds. | Image credit: Nitr - stock.adobe.com

The epidemiological survey is published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

“Previous literature has confirmed the correlation between psoriasis and dietary factors,” wrote the researchers of the study. “However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the causal relationship between dietary consumption habits and psoriasis. The results show that among the 29 dietary habits analyzed, the intake of dried fruits has a causal relationship with psoriasis, with increased consumption acting as a protective factor against the disease.”

Ongoing research suggests that many high calorie foods that can lead to weight gain and increase the risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease may also trigger an inflammatory response. Meanwhile, following a Mediterranean diet for psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis can also reduce chronic inflammation. Fish and lean protein, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, olive oil, small amounts of low-fat dairy, and whole grains are some of the best foods for psoriasis, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.²

In this study, the researchers aimed to determine the causal relationship between dietary consumption habits and psoriasis using the Mendelian randomization approach.¹

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 29 dietary consumption habits and psoriasis were obtained from the genome-wide association study catalog and FinnGen databases using the keywords food consumption and psoriasis. Psoriasis data included 407,876 samples, for 10,312 cases and 397,564 controls. All samples were of European ancestry to minimize racial bias.

After screening, 12 dietary habits with fewer than 3 SNPs were removed from the dietary consumption habits sample dataset, leaving 17 dietary habits with a larger number of SNPs.

The analysis using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method indicated a significant negative correlation between dried fruit consumption and psoriasis risk (OR, 0.065; 95% CI, 0.008- 0.555; P = .012). This suggests that regular intake of dried fruits may reduce the likelihood and severity of psoriasis. In contrast, the MR-Egger and weighted median estimator analyses did not yield statistically significant results (P > .05).

Heterogeneity testing with Cochran’s Q test showed P values of .0003 for IVW and .0002 for MR-Egger, indicating some heterogeneity, but this had minimal impact on the IVW findings.

The researchers believe that 3 key factors may explain the observed protective effect of dried fruit consumption against psoriasis. First, increased intake of dried fruits may help reduce overall caloric intake while still providing essential nutrients. Second, the high fiber content in dried fruits can have a positive impact on gut microbiota, modulating lipid and glucose metabolism and supporting immune homeostasis. Finally, dried fruits are rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds that combat oxidative stress, a contributing factor in psoriasis pathogenesis.

However, the researchers noted some limitations to their results, including it being restricted to individuals of European ancestry, which limits generalizability to other ethnic groups. They also noted that the study did not establish a causal link between psoriasis and the intake of other dietary items like red wine or beer, despite previous research suggesting these as risk factors, highlighting the need for a broader dietary questionnaire and improved genetic data for more detailed exposure assessments.

Despite these limitations, the researchers believe the study shows that increasing the intake of dried fruits may act as a protective factor against psoriasis.

“Overall, this study identifies the consumption of dried fruits as a protective factor against psoriasis, providing a basis for further research to refine and identify genetic markers associated with specific foods, thereby facilitating more precise analyses of the impact of dietary factors on psoriasis,” wrote the researchers.

References

1. Minghui L, Changyong G, Runtian Z, et al. The association between dietary consumption habits and psoriasis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1405663. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1405663

2. Wesdock M. Psoriasis diet: foods to eat and avoid if you have psoriasis. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed November 12, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/psoriasis-diet-foods-to-eat-and-avoid-if-you-have-psoriasis