Some Phases of Vitamin Therapy in Dermatology

Obermayer, Maximilian E.; Frost, Kendal

doi:10.1001/archderm.1945.01510230019004

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…While thiamine is not repellent, the possibility exists that its effects on bite symptoms may not just be a placebo effect (Obermayer and Frost, 1945). A few authors tested for this possibility (Ruiz-Maldonado and Tamayo, 1973), including Khan et al (1969), whose controlled experiments found thiamine ineffective, and Lunsford (1950) and Rahm (1958), whose uncontrolled experiments found it possibly reduced local symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thiamine (vitamin B1) as an insect repellent: a scoping review

Shelomi

2022

Bull. Entomol. Res.

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While the desire for systemic repellents is high, ineffective repellents put one at risk of insect-vectored pathogens. Vitamin B1, or thiamine, has been touted as a systemic insect repellent since 1943, and denounced as an ineffective placebo for just as long. This paper presents a scoping review of 104 relevant case reports, research studies, and review articles to trace the evolution of this idea and identify an evidence-based, scientific consensus. Reports of thiamine's systemic repellency are primarily anecdotal and based on uncontrolled trials and/or used bite symptoms as a proxy for reduced biting. Controlled experiments on insect landing and feeding found no evidence of repellency. Of the 49 relevant review papers, 16 insect bite prevention guidelines, and 4 government documents, none after the 1990s claimed thiamine is a repellent. The findings of this review are that thiamine cannot repel arthropods in any dosage or route of administration. Due to limited available evidence, the possibility that thiamine reduces the subjective symptoms of insect bites cannot currently be ruled out. Unfortunately, many medical professionals and travelers today still believe thiamine may be effective despite the evidence stating otherwise. Continued promotion of debunked repellents on the commercial market poses a serious risk in countries with the endemic, mosquito-vectored disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thiamine (vitamin B1) as an insect repellent: a scoping review

Shelomi

2022

Bull. Entomol. Res.

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“…The first clinical observations of the effects of vitamin A and acne were reported in the forties (11)(12)(13). The study by J. Straumfjord was particularly encouraging, because improvement was seen in 74-84% of patients who were treated with vitamin A at a dose of 100,000 IV daily for at least 6 months.…”

Section: Vitamin a (Retinol)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Historical Aspects of the Oral Use of Retinoids in Acne

Hartmann

Bollag

1993

The Journal of Dermatology

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A number of investigations of the effects of vitamin A deficiency in animals and man and its treatment with natural products containing vitamin A were carried out in the twenties and thirties. In 1942, a clinical study in patients with acne treated with vitamin A yielded encouraging results. Further trials in the forties and fifties, trying to confirm the beneficial effect of oral vitamin A in acne, met with equivocal success. In the sixties, all-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin) became clinically available, and its topical efficacy in acne could be demonstrated. In 1971, oral tretinoin also was shown to be active in patients with acne. Coincidentally, the efficacy of oral 13-cis retinoic acid (isotretinoin) became evident in a series of unpublished studies in Europe. Then, in 1978, a trial carried out at the NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, yielded convincing evidence that isotretinoin is a potent new drug for the treatment of severe cystic acne. In 1982, isotretinoin was registered in the United States and one year later in Europe for the treatment of severe, recalcitrant, cystic acne. Since then, many thousands of patients suffering psychologically and physically from the severity of their disease have been treated successfully with this drug. However, the main concern of physicians prescribing isotretinoin has to focus on its potentially severe side effects, particularly its teratogenicity.

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“…The use of vitamin A (retinol) in acne started in the 1940s when Straumfjord [307] claimed that the daily administration of 100,000 USP units of vitamin A for periods from 9 to 18 months resulted in the disappearance of the lesions in almost every treated patient. Impressed by the results, Obermayer and Frost [308] tried to repeat Straumfjord's experiment. They could only state that vitamin A is beneficial in some forms of acne while others did no respond.…”

Section: From Vitamin a To Isotretinoin: Innovative Views On Acne Patmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They could only state that vitamin A is beneficial in some forms of acne while others did no respond. They considered the positive results plausible because ‘the pathological feature (of acne) is identical with the hyperkeratosis of the pilosebaceous follicle seen in avitaminosis A' [308]. Lynch and Cook [309] were less convinced by the value of vitamin A in acne.…”

Section: From Vitamin a To Isotretinoin: Innovative Views On Acne Patmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acne Pathogenesis: History of Concepts

Tilles¹

2014

Dermatology

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From the first reliable descriptions of acne in the early 19th century, dermatologists recognized it as a disease of the pilosebaceous follicle. Until the middle of the 20th century, they hypothesized that seborrhoea, follicular keratosis and microorganisms could be individually responsible for the acne lesions. Inflammation was only regarded as the final and inescapable step of the acne process. Although the importance of these factors has been reevaluated, recent works still regarded them as mandatory. In the 1970s, the onset of isotretinoin dramatically improved acne management. It also provided great opportunities for a better understanding of the pathogenic factors of acne. This study analyzes their genesis and development from the seminal contributions until recent advances.

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Some Phases of Vitamin Therapy in Dermatology

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Thiamine (vitamin B1) as an insect repellent: a scoping review

Thiamine (vitamin B1) as an insect repellent: a scoping review

Historical Aspects of the Oral Use of Retinoids in Acne

Acne Pathogenesis: History of Concepts

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