Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered that a high sodium diet may raise the risk of eczema, with even just one additional gram of sodium per day increasing the chances of flares by 22%.
Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a persistent condition that leads to dry and itchy skin. It is considered one of the most common skin conditions worldwide.
Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting over 31 million people in the U.S., with one in 10 people developing it at some point. It has become more prevalent in recent years, particularly in developed countries, with potential links to environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet.
Sodium, typically consumed in the form of salt, has been linked to an increased risk of hypertension and heart disease. Researchers have also found that sodium is stored in the skin, potentially contributing to the inflammation in eczema. This suggests that limiting dietary sodium could be a simple way for eczema patients to manage their condition.
“Many eczema patients consume too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels,” said Katrina Abuabara, MD, associate professor of dermatology at UCSF and corresponding author of the study, which appears June 5, 2024, in JAMA Dermatology.
“Eczema flares can be difficult for patients to cope with,” said Abuabara, who is also associate adjunct professor of epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, “especially when they are unable to anticipate them and don’t have recommendations on what they can do to avoid them.”
For their cross-sectional study, the researchers analyzed data from
A study from the UK Biobank, which consists of urine samples and electronic medical records from over 215,000 individuals aged 30 to 70, revealed that researchers were able to determine the amount of sodium each person consumed through urine samples. Additionally, they were able to identify cases of atopic dermatitis and its severity through prescription codes in the medical records.
They discovered that for every additional gram of sodium excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period, there was an 11% increased likelihood of being diagnosed with eczema, a 16% greater chance of having an active case, and an 11% higher probability of experiencing more severe symptoms.
Furthermore, the researchers examined 13,000 U.S. adults included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to further explore these findings.
Association of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and sodium intake has been a topic of interest for researchers. A study published in JAMA Dermatology examined the relationship between sodium intake and AD using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study found that consuming just one additional gram of sodium per day was associated with a 22% increase in the likelihood of having an active case of eczema. This research sheds light on the potential impact of sodium intake on the prevalence of AD and highlights the importance of further investigation in this area.
