Dear Loren Cordain/Paleo Diet Team,
I can't thank you enough for your research. I have been living The Paleo Diet® for nearly a year now, and it has completely transformed my life. I had been suffering from Sjogrens syndrome for years, but after starting this diet my symptoms disappeared almost instantly! I will never eat any other way again.
I also have a question. A friend of mine is suffering from ichthyosis. It is a rare disease where skin dries out. It has a genetic cause. Can the Paleo Diet bring relief to people with these type of diseases as well?
Maelán Fontes' Response:
Ichthyosis Vulgaris has a genetic background. However, our colleague Pedro provided us some information regarding this rare disease. There's some scant evidence that a gluten-free diet might alleviate symptoms of Ichthyosis, and there appears to be an association with coeliac disease (a gluten-triggered disease).
Folic acid and vitamin D supplementation seems to improve this condition.
There's a case report of a patient suffering from ichthyosis whose symptoms improved within 6 months of treatment.
Please keep us posted.
Maelán Fontes MS Ph.D. candidate in Medical Sciences at Lund University, Sweden
