Dietary habits in Japanese patients with bullous pemphigoid: low intake of retinol.

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. Dietary habits may modulate the pathogenesis of BP.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated dietary habits in Japanese patients with BP and compared their results to those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We also examined the relationship between dietary habits versus IgG anti-BP180NC16A antibody or parameters of BP disease area index (BPDAI); cutaneous blisters/erosions, cutaneous urticaria/erythema, and mucosal blisters/erosions.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Dietary habits were assessed by the validated, Brief-type self-administered Diet History Questionnaire. Severity of disease was assessed with BPDAI.

RESULTS

Patients with BP showed a lower intake of retinol (vitamin A1) and beverages, and a higher intake of seasoning/spices, compared to controls. The bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that BP was associated with a low intake of retinol and beverages. There were no significant correlations between IgG anti-BP180NC16A antibody levels and intake of nutrients/foods. The BPDAI score for cutaneous blisters/erosions significantly positively correlated with intake of carbohydrate and negatively with intake of retinol, vitamin A, animal fat, cholesterol, phosphorus, and vitamin B2. The BPDAI score for cutaneous urticaria/erythema significantly negatively correlated with intake of vitamin A. BP patients with mucosal blisters/erosions had a higher intake of cholesterol, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and eggs, and lower intake of seasoning/spices, compared to patients without BP.

CONCLUSION

The supplementation of vitamin A might have prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects on BP.