Monday October 6, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking oral vitamin D supplements may help prevent skin infections in patients with skin conditions like eczema by boosting production of a protective chemical in the skin, according to a new study.

The study found use of oral vitamin D appeared to correct a defect in the immune systems in patients with skin disease.

The study was conducted by Richard Gallo, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues and published in the October 3 edition of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.

Atopic dermatitis, which affects 10 to 20 percent of children and one to three percent of adults, is characterized by severe itching, redness and scaling. The condition could lead to skin infections by Staph aureus and the herpes and small pox viruses.

The researchers studied 14 people with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and 14 people without skin conditions. Both groups were given 4,000 IUs of oral vitamin D3 (cholescalciferol) per day for 21 days.   Skin lesions were analyzed before and after treatment.

They found use of oral vitamin D appeared to correct the skin's defect in cathelicidin in the patients. Defects in the immune systems are known to interfere with the skin's production of the compound, which is protective against microbial invasions.  

Low levels of cathelicidin are correlated with increased risk of infection in patients with many skin diseases including eczema.

The study was small and the results need to be confirmed in further studies, the researchers cautioned.

Vitamin D has been known to provide protection against a range of diseases such as cancer.