Pantethine Shows Promise Against Psoriasis
Researchers in China report a nutritional supplement limits immune cell activity linked to the skin condition in mice and a small human trial.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Nutrition
Researchers in China found that pantethine, a widely available nutritional supplement often used to lower blood cholesterol, limits immune cell activity linked to psoriasis. A small-scale trial of 24 patients given pantethine alongside topical treatment showed improved symptoms over 12 weeks.
Why it matters
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, and high blood cholesterol is a known risk factor for it, so a low-cost supplement that targets this pathway could offer a new avenue for treatment. The findings link cholesterol metabolism directly to immune cell activation in the disease.
The evidence combines a mouse model and a human trial of 24 patients treated for 12 weeks, with pantethine tablets given to half the group alongside standard topical therapy. Larger, controlled human studies are not described, and the extraction does not report a comparison group.
The players
Journal of Experimental Medicine
A peer-reviewed biomedical research journal published by Rockefeller University Press that carries original studies in immunology and related fields.
The details
Researchers found that Vanin enzymes, which are elevated in dendritic cells of psoriasis patients and in several other autoimmune diseases, convert pantethine into vitamin B5. When Vanin activity is high, pantethine levels fall, which increases cholesterol synthesis and drives dendritic cell hyperactivation; blocking Vanin prevented psoriasis in mice.
Timeline
• October 27, 2026: Study scheduled for publication in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
• Over a 12-week period: Duration of the small-scale pantethine patient trial.
Big Picture
The findings extend the recognized association between high blood cholesterol and psoriasis risk by identifying a mechanism through which cholesterol promotes dendritic cell activation. Whether this pathway can be targeted therapeutically through supplements such as pantethine remains to be tested in larger clinical studies.
Psoriasis patients should not begin taking pantethine based on these results alone, since the evidence comes from a mouse model and a 24-person trial. Anyone considering a supplement for psoriasis should discuss it with a clinician, particularly if they take other medications or have elevated blood cholesterol.
The takeaway
Cholesterol and immune activity appear to be linked in psoriasis, opening a possible path for future treatments targeting cholesterol metabolism. Readers with psoriasis should continue their prescribed care and consult a clinician before trying any supplement.
Further reading
Explore more in the Nutrition section for context on how supplements like pantethine are studied.
More information
The full Journal of Experimental Medicine study on pantethine is available from the publisher.
