Researchers May Have Found a Remedy for Chronic Hives, Explains Chemist Direct
(PRWEB UK) 12 May 2014 -- Research has found that vitamin D could help relieve pain for patients suffering with hives.
Chronic hives, also known as Urticaria, are raised red or white itchy patches of various sizes that appear and disappear over the space of several weeks.
Hives is a skin condition without a cure or a large amount of effective treatments but a new study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has revealed that vitamin D could offer patients pain relief if used as an add-on therapy.
Superintendent pharmacist at ChemistDirect, Omar El-Gohary, said: “Hives occur when blood vessels leak under the skin leading to a painful, itchy rash. In chronic cases it can last for weeks. The exact cause is unknown and it is usually treated with steroids or antihistamines.”
The two-year study was carried about by Dr Jill Poole - a professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine - which was published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Dr. Poole wanted to monitor the effects that vitamin D was having on hives sufferers. Over a 12-week study, 38 participants took a triple-drug combination of allergy medications for hives, along with one vitamin D tablet. Half the patients were given 600 IUs of vitamin D and the other half were given 4000 IUs.
After just one week, researchers found that the severity of the symptoms in both groups had dropped by 33 percent but by the end of the three months, the group taking the higher dosage of vitamin D showed an additional drop in symptoms by up to 40 percent. (http://bit.ly/1fTKOzt)
Researchers now hope to replicate the results in a much larger study.
El-Gohary added: “Vitamin D plays a role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, a healthy immune system, cognitive functions and a healthy body weight. Too much vitamin D however can lead to kidney damage and the weakening of bones.”
“The best way to get vitamin D is from sunlight, however it is also found in foods such as oily fish and eggs.”
Maria Camanes Fores, Chemist Direct, +44 1215414952 Ext: 205, [email protected]
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