Conditions: Atopic Dermatitis Psoriasis
Keywords: Vitamin D3 Atopic Dermatitis Antimicrobial Peptide Expression
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 82
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
This study will examine whether administration of oral Vitamin D3 given over 21 days will change the antimicrobial peptide expression in the skin or saliva of subjects with Atopic Dermatitis (AD). This study will help researchers determine if the lack of the expression of antimicrobial peptides in individuals with AD plays a role in the susceptibility to eczema vaccinatum (EV).

Detailed description:
Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder in which the skin becomes extremely itchy and is susceptible to recurrent skin infections. AD is thought to occur from a combination of immunological, genetic, and environmental factors. Individuals with AD are at risk for developing a severe and widely disseminated infection called eczema vaccinatum (EV). EV is caused when the live attenuated vaccinia virus in the vaccine reproduces and spreads throughout the body. Individuals with AD lack certain antimicrobial peptides, specifically cathelicidins.

This trial also includes a sub-study with individuals who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is also an immune-mediated skin disease, and is characterized by scaling skin and inflammation (pain, swelling, heat, and redness). Most psoriasis cause patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. This sub-study will provide additional information on psoriatic responses to oral vitamin D. (Originally listed separately as ADVN-CATH-03-01).

Arms:
arm 1: Subjects received a 21-day course of oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 4,000 international units \[IU\] arm 2: Subjects received a 21-day course of oral vitamin D3-placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: Vitamin D3 intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Administration of oral vitamin D3 at 4000IU intervention 2: Administration of oral Vitamin D3 placebo

Protocol document: