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Vitamin D May Help Ease Persistent Hives

High-dose vitamin D may ease the suffering of some people with persistent hives.

People usually experience hives as itchy red bumps on the skin that occur upon exposure to an allergen. In most cases, the hives cause discomfort for a few hours or even a few days and then disappear. But what about people who suffer from persistent hives? The trigger is not always obvious.

A small study of patients with persistent hives suggests that vitamin D3 might have a role to play in helping control this itchy skin condition. Investigators randomly assigned patients to receive either 600 IU or 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for three months. The study subjects filled out questionnaires regarding their symptoms and kept track of how many allergy pills they needed to take to control the red itchy welts on their skin.

Vitamin D Led to Improvement in Persistent Hives:

Although there was no difference in their antihistamine use, other measures of hives severity were significantly lower at the end of the study in the group given high-dose vitamin D3. The investigators concluded that adding high-dose vitamin D3 to normal allergy treatment can improve quality of life for those suffering from persistent hives.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, April 2014

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it can build up in the body. 4,000 IU is near the maximum amount one should take daily without fear of overdosing after a while.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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