The Best Vitamins and Supplements for Psoriasis

Zinc is involved in skin cell production, wound healing, and immune regulation — all directly relevant to psoriasis. Studies measuring serum zinc in psoriasis patients consistently find lower levels than in healthy controls, and the degree of deficiency correlates with disease severity in several studies.^[3] Zinc also has direct anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting several pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF-α.

The evidence for zinc supplementation improving psoriasis outcomes is supportive but not as robust as for vitamin D — most studies are observational rather than randomized trials. That said, correcting zinc deficiency (which is common in psoriasis) is straightforward and low-risk at standard doses.

The gut-skin axis — the relationship between gut microbiome composition and skin inflammation — is increasingly well-documented. People with psoriasis show measurable differences in gut microbiome diversity compared to controls, and dysbiosis (an imbalanced microbiome) appears to contribute to systemic inflammation through immune signaling pathways.^[4] Probiotic supplementation aims to restore beneficial bacterial populations and reduce this inflammatory signaling.

Clinical trial results are mixed — some studies show meaningful reductions in PASI scores with specific strains, others show modest effects. The most studied strains for psoriasis are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium longum. Dietary probiotics (kefir, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut) provide these strains alongside prebiotic fiber, which enhances their efficacy — food-first is generally preferable to capsules unless dietary sources are limited.

B12 deficiency is more common in people with psoriasis than in the general population, particularly in those following plant-based diets (B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products) and in people on methotrexate (which interferes with B12 metabolism). Deficiency contributes to impaired skin cell regeneration, increased inflammation, and fatigue — all of which worsen psoriasis management. The evidence for B12 supplementation improving psoriasis outcomes specifically is indirect — it primarily comes from the documented relationship between deficiency and worse disease, rather than from randomized trials of supplementation in people with normal B12 levels.

B12 is also used topically in some psoriasis formulations — there is modest clinical evidence that topical B12 cream reduces psoriasis severity, potentially through modulation of local inflammatory cytokines.

Curcumin — the active compound in turmeric — inhibits NF-κB, a key transcription factor that drives production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-17 and TNF-α, both central to psoriatic inflammation. The mechanistic rationale is strong. Clinical evidence is more limited — a small number of trials show measurable reductions in psoriasis severity with oral curcumin supplementation, and topical curcumin has shown effects on plaque thickness and scaling.^[5]

The major practical limitation of curcumin is bioavailability — standard curcumin powder is poorly absorbed. Formulations that meaningfully improve absorption include: curcumin with piperine (black pepper extract, which increases absorption by up to 2000%), phospholipid complexes (phytosome formulations), and nanoparticle or liposomal delivery systems. Cooking turmeric with fat and black pepper is the dietary equivalent.

Selenium is an antioxidant mineral involved in immune regulation. Several studies have found lower serum selenium in psoriasis patients compared to controls, and there is preliminary evidence that selenium status correlates inversely with psoriasis severity. Supplementation trials are limited and small. The case for selenium is primarily built on deficiency correction in people who test low — it is not yet established as a therapeutic supplement in the same way as vitamin D or omega-3s.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that concentrates in skin tissue and protects cell membranes from oxidative damage. Oxidative stress amplifies psoriatic inflammation, and vitamin E has documented antioxidant activity relevant to this mechanism. Clinical evidence for oral vitamin E supplementation in psoriasis is limited and mixed. It is more established as a topical agent — vitamin E oil applied to plaques has reported benefits for reducing dryness and itch, though this is primarily palliative rather than anti-inflammatory. Most people eating a diet that includes nuts, seeds, and avocado are unlikely to be deficient.