Modified Intermittent Fasting in Psoriasis (MANGO)

Ghent University Hospital (UZ)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Psoriasis; Psoriasis Vulgaris

Treatments: Behavioral: Modified Intermittent Fasting followed by Regular Diet; Behavioral: Regular Diet followed by Modified Intermittent Fasting

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04418791

BC-6977

Details and patient eligibility

About

The complexity of psoriasis is partially affected by dietary effects, and some diets have shown to be beneficial in psoriasis. Intermittent fasting has been shown to improve many of these disturbances, even inflammatory parameters such as TNF and CRP. Individuals with psoriasis have been reported to have impaired intestinal integrity and it has been suggested that gut health affects skin health, pointing towards a gut-skin axis. Understanding how dietary lifestyles can affect epithelial lineages such as the skin and gut, will greatly improve our understanding on the development of psoriasis. Modified intermittent fasting (MIF) of 2 non-consecutive days has shown to have positive metabolic effects, yet its effect on gut and skin remains underexplored.

Full description

To study the role of gut health, more specifically the intestinal barrier, in individuals with psoriasis and the effects of fasting on both organs in a prospective cohort cross-over study. The investigators will test whether MIF can improve (i) skin lesions (clinical and molecular level), (ii) intestinal integrity markers such as zonulin, IFABP and sCD14, and (iii) the timing of these improvements. As such, it can be determined whether fasting benefits psoriasis and gut health. MIF will consist of a limited calorie uptake of 500 kcal for 2 days a week. The remaining days of the week are as usual. Gut and skin health will be tested at the molecular level during 12 weeks with another crossover of 12 weeks (alternating between MIF and usual diet).

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mild psoriasis (PASI < 10)
• At least BMI of 20
• Stable weight for last 3 months
• Topical treatment
• Availability of smartphone and willing to install app
• Willing to attend dematology clinic at Ghent University Hospital

Exclusion criteria

• Underweight and/or following strict diet
• Use of anti, pre and/or probiotics (last 3 months)
• Use of immunosuppressants (last 3 months)
• Smoking
• Consumption of fish oil
• Diagnosed diabetes (type ½)
• Excessive physical activity
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• More than 14 alcohol units/week
• History of cardiac condition(s)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

MIF-regular

Experimental group

Description:

MIF-regular will start with modified intermittent fasting. After 12 weeks, this arm will return to regular diet with no fasting intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Modified Intermittent Fasting followed by Regular Diet

Regular-MIF

Experimental group

Description:

Regular-MIF will start with regular diet with no fasting. After 12 weeks, this arm will start with modified intermittent fasting.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Regular Diet followed by Modified Intermittent Fasting