Effectiveness of Topical Chia Seed Oil on Pruritus of End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients and Healthy Volunteers.
- Author:
Se Kyoo JEONG
1
;
Hyun Jung PARK
;
Byeong Deog PARK
;
Il Hwan KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Alpha-linolenic acid; Chia seed oil; End-stage renal failure; Omega-3 fatty acids; Pruritus
- MeSH: alpha-Linolenic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Methylmethacrylates; Neurodermatitis; Oils; Permeability; Polystyrenes; Prurigo; Pruritus; Seeds; Skin; Water Loss, Insensible
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2010;22(2):143-148
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Several studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary n-3 fatty acid for patients with renal dysfunction. While about 40% to 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) complain about pruritus and xerosis, there are few reports on the effects of topical n-3 fatty acid on these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the possible beneficial effects of topical n-3 fatty acid, oils extracted from chia (Salvia hispanica) seed were formulated into topical products, the effects of which were measured. METHODS: Five healthy volunteers having xerotic pruritus symptoms and 5 patients with pruritus caused by either ESRD or diabetes were involved in this study. A topical formulation containing 4% chia seed oils were applied for an 8-week duration. Subjective itching symptoms were assessed on a 6-point scale, as were other skin functions, namely transepidermal water loss and skin capacitance. RESULTS: After the 8 weeks of application, significant improvements in skin hydration, lichen simplex chronicus, and prurigo nodularis were observed in all patients. A similar improvement was also observed among healthy volunteers with xerotic pruritus. Improvement of epidermal permeability barrier function and skin hydration, represented by trans-epidermal water loss and skin capacitance, respectively, were also observed. No adverse effects were observed in all the tested patients and volunteers. CONCLUSION: Chia seed oil can be used as an adjuvant moisturizing agent for pruritic skin, including that of ESRD patients.
