Folic Acid Beneficial Adjunct to Psoriasis Med

TOULOUSE, France—Supplementation with folic acid may be an effective measure to reduce hepatic adverse effects associated with methotrexate treatment, according to a recent study in the British Journal of Dermatology (2009;160(3):622-28). Cochrane and MEDLINE databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials in patients treated with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis with or without arthritis were included. Six, randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, with a total sample of 648 patients. There were 257 patients in the placebo group, 198 patients treated with folic acid and 193 patients treated with folinic acid. The statistical analysis showed a significant reduction of 35.8 percent of hepatic side-effects induced by methotrexate for patients with supplementation with folic or folinic acid. There was no statistical difference for mucocutaneous and gastrointestinal side-effects although there was a trend in favor of supplementation. The effect of supplementation on haematological side-effects could not be assessed accurately due to a low incidence of these events in the population studied. Researchers noted there was no difference between folinic acid and folic acid, but the lower cost of the latter promotes its use.