Study links chronic hives with vitamin D deficiency

A small study comparing 25 patients with chronic hives to 25 with nasal allergies has found that those with chronic hives have significantly lower levels of vitamin D.

Chronic hives occurs typically three times a week and can last for more than six weeks. They can be very uncomfortable and make sufferers feel miserable. Hives are red, itchy welts and can lead to difficulty breathing.

Lead researcher Jill Pool, assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine said that as treatment options can be quite limited, taking vitamin D supplements may be one part of the answer to treating chronic hives.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and vitamin D supplements have been found to relieve symptoms of a type of eczema.

Source: University of Nebraska Medical Center

First Published in January 2011


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