Excess sodium intake may increase the risk of eczema flares

UCSF examine finds that modifications in every day salt consumption could clarify eczema flares. 

A excessive sodium weight loss program could improve the chance of eczema, in accordance with researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF), who discovered that consuming only one additional gram of sodium per day – the quantity in a Massive Mac – will increase the probability of flares by 22%.

Eczema, often known as atopic dermatitis, is a continual illness that causes dry, itchy pores and skin. It is one of the widespread pores and skin circumstances, affecting greater than 31 million individuals within the U.S., and one in 10 individuals will develop it in some unspecified time in the future.

It has develop into more and more widespread in recent times, particularly in industrialized international locations, implicating environmental and way of life elements like weight loss program.

Sodium, which most individuals eat within the type of salt, will increase the chance of hypertension and coronary heart illness. And scientists lately found that sodium is saved within the pores and skin, the place it could play a task within the irritation in eczema. 

Limiting dietary sodium might be a straightforward means for eczema sufferers to handle their illness.

“Most People eat an excessive amount of salt and may safely scale back their consumption to beneficial ranges,” mentioned Katrina Abuabara, MD, affiliate professor of dermatology at UCSF and corresponding writer of the examine, which seems June 5, 2024, in JAMA Dermatology.

“Eczema flares will be troublesome for sufferers to deal with,” mentioned Abuabara, who can also be affiliate adjunct professor of epidemiology on the UC Berkeley Faculty of Public Well being, “particularly when they’re unable to anticipate them and do not have suggestions on what they will do to keep away from them.” 

For his or her cross-sectional examine, the researchers analyzed knowledge from greater than 215,000 individuals between 30 and 70 years previous from the UK Biobank, which incorporates urine samples and digital medical information.

They may inform how a lot sodium every individual was consuming from urine samples; and so they might see whether or not individuals had a analysis of atopic dermatitis, in addition to the severity, from prescription codes.

They discovered that every further gram of sodium excreted in urine over 24 hours was related to 11% larger odds of an eczema analysis; 16% larger odds of getting an lively case; and 11% larger odds of elevated severity. 

Then, they checked out 13,000 U.S. adults within the Nationwide Well being and Vitamin Examination Survey and located that consuming only one further gram a day of sodium – about half a teaspoon of desk salt – was related to 22% larger odds that somebody would have an lively case of eczema.