Since eicosanoids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of
psoriasis, less potent eicosanoid mediators derived from fish oil might
improve psoriasis. Using a double-blind, randomized, parallel design,
18 patients with stable, plaque psoriasis received capsules of either
fish oil or identical-appearing placebo olive oil for 15 weeks, with
concomitant sub-erythemal UVB in weeks 3 to 11. At the conclusion of
phototherapy, and 4 weeks later, patients in the fish oil group had a
greater decrease in the total body surface area of psoriasis and more
improvement compared to patients in the olive oil group. The
improvement in the fish oil group was statistically significantly
greater for all parameters compared to the change in the olive oil
group. The apparent safety and general health-promoting features of
fish oil could provide an ideal adjunctive therapy for psoriasis.