The Impact of Dietary Salt on the Severity of Eczema
University of California, San Francisco
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of low-sodium diet to improve eczema severity. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a low-sodium diet improve eczema severity? * How does a low-sodium diet impact skin sodium concentration? * Is skin sodium concentration associated with eczema severity? Researchers will ask all participant to follow a low-sodium diet, then compare sodium tablets to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to specifically examine the impact of altering sodium intake. Participants will: * Follow a low-salt diet for the duration of the 24-week study * Take sodium chloride tablets every day for 5 weeks followed by a placebo every day for 5 weeks after a 2-week washout period, or vice versa * Complete up to 4 virtual check-in visits * Visit the clinic 4 times to answer questionnaires, provide bio samples, complete dietary recalls, and undergo non-contrast sodium MRI
Description
The central hypothesis of this proposal is that excess dietary sodium (consumed primarily as salt) is concentrated in the skin as a physiologic response to poor barrier function, and that a low-sodium diet can improve eczema severity. The study will recruit 40 individuals (10 healthy participants, 30 with moderate-severe atopic dermatitis) and follow them to identify factors associated with skin sodium storage. All participants will be counseled on how to follow a low-sodium diet for 24 weeks. After 12 weeks on the diet alone, they will be asked to add daily tablets in a self-controlled cros…