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Dietary vitamin E may protect against atopic dermatitis
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A study published in the journal Skin Research & Technology found that vitamin E consumption may potentially reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis.
Xiqing Wang of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and colleagues conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to examine the causal relationship between intake of dietary antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, and retinol) and atopic dermatitis.
The researchers found a causal association between vitamin E intake and atopic dermatitis (odds ratio, 0.859; 95% confidence interval, 0.745 to 0.992; P = 0.038). No causal association was found between the other three vitamins and atopic dermatitis (odds ratios [95% confidence interval] 0.953 [0.826 to 1.099; P = 0.507], 1.011 [0.864 to 1.184; P = 0.890], and 1.063 [0.893 to 1.264; P = 0.492] for vitamin C, carotene, and retinol, respectively). No heterogeneity in single nucleotide polymorphisms was detected in the sensitivity analysis, and no significant pleiotropy was observed.
"The analysis suggests that vitamin E intake may potentially reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis. In contrast, vitamin C, retinol, and carotene intake were not associated with the development of atopic dermatitis," the authors write. "Although vitamin E intake may be a protective factor against atopic dermatitis, dietary antioxidant vitamin intake is not necessary for the prevention or treatment of atopic dermatitis."