Condition

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that leaves skin dry, itchy and red, and it often runs alongside asthma and allergies. Probiotics and vitamin D have the most research behind them, rated moderate, yet studies found no clear difference in allergic disease risk or respiratory infection symptoms, while a small study of nicotinamide found redness improved. Most of this evidence is limited, so the picture is still early.

Sources: PMID 16029679

Supplements studied: 7
Graded outcomes: 6
Trials: 5
People studied: 5,997

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

7 supplements

Nicotinamide

Nicotinamide: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Erythema Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	175 people
Studies that measured erythema Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearanceDermatol Surg · PMID 16029679
	Wound Healing	Improves (the measure goes up)			175 people

Hemp Protein

Hemp Protein: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Eczema Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		16 people
	Skin Quality No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	16 people
Studies that measured skin quality Efficacy of dietary hempseed oil in patients with atopic dermatitisJ Dermatolog Treat · PMID 16019622

Elderberry

Eczema Symptoms
Itching: improves
Quality of Life: improves

Elderberry: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Eczema Symptoms No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	94 people
Studies that measured eczema symptoms A Comparison of the Effect of Topical Preparation of L. and Hydrocortisone on Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.J Altern Complement Med · PMID 33571040
	Itching	Improves (the measure goes up)			94 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			94 people
	Wound Healing	Improves (the measure goes up)			94 people

Probiotics

Allergic Disease Risk
Eczema Symptoms: improves

Probiotics: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Allergic Disease Risk No effect		NoneNo effect		399 people
	Eczema Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	440 people
Studies that measured eczema symptoms Systematic review and meta-analysis on probiotics as treatment for food allergies among pediatric patients: A 2024 update.Pediatr Allergy Immunol · PMID 39803979

Vitamin D

Acute Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
Asthma Symptoms: improves
Allergy Symptoms: improves

Vitamin D: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Acute Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms No effect		NoneNo effect		2,461 people
	Asthma Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	2,461 people
Studies that measured asthma symptoms Association between prenatal vitamin D supplementation and respiratory diseases in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Pediatr · PMID 41204244 Vitamin D supplementation decrease asthma exacerbations in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Ann Med · PMID 39421966
	Allergy Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			2,461 people
	Eczema Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			2,461 people
	Immunoglobulin E	Improves (the measure goes up)			2,461 people

Rosmarinic Acid

Eczema Symptoms: improves

Rosmarinic Acid: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Eczema Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	21 people
Studies that measured eczema symptoms Effect of rosmarinic acid on atopic dermatitisJ Dermatol · PMID 19239556

Evening Primrose Oil

Eczema Symptoms: improves

Evening Primrose Oil: outcomes studied for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Eczema Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	176 people
Studies that measured eczema symptoms Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 23633319

Key findings

ErythemaNicotinamideImproves (the measure goes up)
Eczema SymptomsHemp ProteinImproves (the measure goes down)
Skin QualityHemp Protein

The Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements

Probiotics10–20 billion CFU daily (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains)
Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily

See the full protocol

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Studies cited

1 study from PubMed

Novel antibacterial and emollient effects of coconut and virgin olive oils in adult atopic dermatitisDermatitis · PMID 19134433