the effects of vitamins e and d supplementation on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase in atopic dermatitis

background: atopic dermatitis is a public health problem worldwide. increment of reactive oxygen species (ros) produc­tion may be one of the contributing factors of tissue damage in atopic dermatitis. the present study was designed to deter­mine the effect of vitamins e and/or d on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in patients with atopic dermati­tis. methods: in a randomized , double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial 45 atopic dermatitis patients were divided into four groups. each group received one of the following supplements for 60 days: group a (n=11) vitamins e and d placebos; group b (n= 12) 1600 international unit (iu) vitamin d3 plus vitamin e placebo; group c (n=11) 600 iu synthetic all-rac-α toco­pherol plus vitamin d placebo; group d (n=11) 1600 iu vitamin d3 plus 600 iu synthetic all-rac-α tocopherol. erythro­cyte superoxide dismutase (sod) and catalase activities, serum 25 (oh) d, plasma α-tocopherol were determined. the data were analyzed by analysis of variance (anova) and paired t -test.  results: after 60 days vitamin d and e supplementation, erythrocyte sod activities increased in groups b, c and d ( p = 0.002, p = 0.016 and p = 0.015, respectively). erythrocyte catalase activities increased in groups b and d ( p = 0.026 and p = 0.004, respectively). the increment of erythrocyte catalase activity was not significant in group c. there was a positive signifi­cant correlation between sod activity and serum 25 (oh) d (r= 0.378, p = 0.01). conclusions: it is concluded that vitamin d is as potent as vitamin e in increasing the activities of erythrocyte sod and cata­lase in atopic dermatitis patients.