Condition
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks melanocytes, the cells that make skin pigment, causing white patches. Afamelanotide has the strongest evidence, which is moderate, and a trial found more repigmentation when it was added to narrowband UVB light than with the light alone. Vitamin D and B12 with folic acid have only limited evidence, and a small bakuchi pilot was inconclusive.
Sources: PMID 25230094; PMID 38454597
- Supplements studied
- 4
- Medicines and peptides
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 4
- People studied
- 138
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repigmentation (VASI) Pilot trial: P. corylifolia MT showed trend toward improvement in vitiligo; definitive conclusions not possible | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 58 people | |||
Phlebodium aureum
- Vitiligo Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 50 people | |||
Studies that measured vitiligo symptoms | ||||||
Kutki
- Vitiligo Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 30 people | |||
Studies that measured vitiligo symptoms | ||||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Afamelanotide
- Skin Repigmentation (Vitiligo): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Repigmentation (Vitiligo) 48.64% vs 33.26% repigmentation with NB-UVB combination | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 7 studies |
Key findings
- Repigmentation (VASI)Improves (the measure goes up)
The Vitiligo Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements
- Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (higher if deficient)
- Vitamin B12 and Folic AcidB12: 1,000 mcg daily; Folic acid: 5 mg daily
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Studies cited
11 studies from PubMed
- Treatment Advances in Vitiligo: An Updated Review.
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review.
- A systematic review of case series and clinical trials investigating systemic oral or injectable therapies for the treatment of vitiligo.
- Bridging Molecular Mechanism and Clinical Practice in Vitiligo Treatment: An Updated Review.
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review.
- Afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized multicenter trial
- A review and update on melanocyte stimulating hormone therapy: afamelanotide.
- Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral Polypodium leucotomos extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
- Picrorhiza kurroa, an ayurvedic herb, may potentiate photochemotherapy in vitiligo
- Ginkgo biloba for the treatment of vitilgo vulgaris: an open label pilot clinical trial
- Effectiveness of oral Ginkgo biloba in treating limited, slowly spreading vitiligo