| | | | Vitiligo is a disorder of skin pigmentation characterized by progressively
widening areas of depigmented very white) skin. The phenomenon is
associated with the local destruction of melanocytes, the cells that
produce melanin pigment to darken the skin. It affects 1 - 4% of the
world's population.1
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful: A
clinical report describes the use of vitamin supplements in the treatment
of vitiligo.2 Folic acid and/or vitamin B12 and vitamin C levels were
abnormally low in most of the fifteen people studied. Supplementation with
large amounts of folic acid (1-10 mg per day), along with vitamin C (1
gram per day) and intramuscular vitamin B12 injections (1,000 mcg every
two weeks), produced marked repigmentation in eight people. These
improvements became apparent after three months, but complete
repigmentation required one to two years of continuous supplementation. In
another study of 100 individuals with vitiligo, oral supplementation with
folic acid (10 mg per day) and vitamin B12 (2,000 mcg per day), combined
with sun exposure, resulted in some repigmentation after three to six
months in fifty-two cases.3 This combined regimen was more effective than
either vitamin supplementation or sun exposure alone.
Supplementation with the amino acid L-phenylalanine may have value
when combined with ultraviolet (UVA) radiation therapy. Several clinical
trials, including one double blind trial, indicated that L-phenylalanine
given in amounts of 50 mg per kilogram body weight per day (3,500 mg per
day for a 154-pound person) or less, increased the extent of
repigmentation induced by UVA therapy. L-phenylalanine alone also produced
a more modest repigmentation in some people.4 Another study of vitiligo in
children reported that L-phenylalanine plus UVA was an effective treatment
in the majority of children.5 Recently, a group of Spanish doctors
reported on their experience using L-phenylalanine over a six-year period.
Some of the 171 patients with vitiligo received L-phenylalanine (50 or 100
mg per kg body weight per day) for up to three years. Between April and
October of each year, the patients also applied a 10% L-phenylalanine gel,
prior to exposing their skin to the sun for thirty minutes. Some
improvement was seen in 83% of the patients, and in 57% the results were
rated as good (75% improvement or better).6
In one early report,
lack of stomach acid (achlorhydria) was found to be associated with
vitiligo. Administration of dilute hydrochloric acid after meals resulted
in gradual repigmentation of the skin (after one year or more).7
Hydrochloric acid, or its more-modern counterpart betaine hydrochloride
(HCl), should be taken only under the supervision of a nutritionally
oriented doctor.
Another early report described the use of PABA
(para-aminobenzoic acid)_a compound that is commonly associated with
B-complex vitamins. Persistent use of 100 mg of PABA three or four times
per day along with an injectable form of PABA and a variety of hormones
tailored to individual patients' needs, resulted, in many cases, in
repigmentation of areas affected by vitiligo.8
Herbs that may be
helpful: An extract from khella (Ammi visnaga) may be useful in
repigmenting the skin of those with vitiligo. Khellin, the active
constituent, appears to work like psoralen drugs_it stimulates
repigmentation of the skin by increasing sensitivity of remaining
pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) to sunlight. Studies have used
120-160 mg of khellin per day.9
Another herb that may prove useful
for vitiligo is St. John's wort.10 As with khella, it increases the
response of the skin to sunlight. However, to date no studies have
demonstrated the effectiveness of St. John's wort for
vitiligo.
References:
1. Ortonne JP, Bose SK. Vitiligo:
where do we stand? Pigment Cell Res 1993;6:61-72.
2. Montes LF, Diaz
ML, Lajous J, Garcia NJ. Folic acid and vitamin B12 in vitiligo: a
nutritional approach. Cutis 1992;50:39-42.
3. Juhlin L, Olsson MJ.
Improvement of vitiligo after oral treatment with vitamin B12 and folic
acid and the importance of sun exposure. Acta Derm Venereol
1997;77:460-62.
4. Siddiqui AH, Stolk LM, Bhaggoe R, et al.
L-phenylalanine and UVA irradiation in the treatment of vitiligo.
Dermatology 1994;188:215-18.
5. Schulpis CH, Antoniou C, Michas T,
Strarigos J. Phenylalanine plus ultraviolet light: preliminary report of a
promising treatment for childhood vitiligo. Pediatr Dermatol
1989;6:332-35.
6. Camacho F, Mazuecos J. Treatment of vitiligo with
oral and topical phenylalanine: 6 years of experience. Arch Dermatol
1999;135:216-17.
7. Francis HW. Achlorhydria as an etiological factor
in vitiligo, with report of four cases. Nebraska State Med J
1931;16(1):25-26.
8. Sieve BF. Further investigations in the treatment
of vitiligo. Virginia Med Monthly 1945;Jan:6-17.
9. Abdel-Fattah,
Aboul-Enein MN, Wassel GM, El-Menshawi BS. An approach to the treatment of
vitiligo by khellin. Dermatologica 1982;165:136-40.
10. Brown DJ.
Herbal Prescription for Better Health. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing,
1996, 294-95.
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Please Note: This Traditional Use information is provided as a courtesy only. The products indicated above may be listed in error. This information is based on Traditional and Folklore Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and is not based on scientific evidence from any source. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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Vitiligo - Health - Folic Acid - Women's Natural Health - 1 mg
90 tablets
5.66 US
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Vitiligo - Health - Folic Acid - 1 mg Plus
90 tablets
5.65 US
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Vitiligo - Health - Folic Acid - 400mcg
90 tablets
4.99 US
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Vitiligo - Health - Stress B-Compound - 100 - Timed Release - Yeast Free
60 caplets
15.61 US
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Vitiligo - Health - Stress B-Compound - 100 - Timed Release - Yeast Free
90 caplets
21.63 US
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