Approved Research

Associations between diet, body composition, and co-morbidities in UK Biobank participants with psoriasis

Lay summary

Psoriasis is an immune related skin disorder that affects around 2-3% of the UK population, with adverse psychological, physical and social consequences. Psoriasis is associated with many diet-related co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and psoriatic arthritis. Little is known about the role of diet in the causation and management of psoriasis. We will characterise the diets of UK Biobank participants with psoriasis and test whether diet quality is associated with a lower risk of psoriasis.

Aims: The primary aim of our research is to characterise the diets of people living with psoriasis, determine whether diet quality is associated with psoriasis comorbidities and medications, and whether this relationship varies among participant subgroups (i.e. those with overweight/obesity, demographic categories such as socioeconomic status, co-morbidities such as digestive disorders). Finally, we will examine the relationship between dietary factors and incidence of psoriasis.

Scientific rationale: Psoriasis is associated with both overweight/obesity and inflammation, both of which are influenced by diet quality. In view of the fact that common co-morbidities are diet-dependent (CVD, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes), it is important to characterise the diets of those with psoriasis, and to investigate whether low adherence to healthy dietary patterns is associated with psoriasis and co-morbidities.

Project duration: This project will be conducted over 3 years as part of a PhD project.

Public Health Impact: If we find an association between diet quality and psoriasis, future randomised controlled trials can be used to investigate efficacy of dietary interventions in reducing disease severity.