Condition
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks melanocytes, the cells that make skin pigment, causing white patches. Afamelanotide has the strongest evidence, which is moderate, and a trial found more repigmentation when it was added to narrowband UVB light than with the light alone. Vitamin D and B12 with folic acid have only limited evidence, and a small bakuchi pilot was inconclusive.
Sources: PMID 25230094; PMID 38454597
- Supplements studied
- 4
- Medicines and peptides
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 4
- People studied
- 138
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repigmentation (VASI) Pilot trial: P. corylifolia MT showed trend toward improvement in vitiligo; definitive conclusions not possible | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 58 people | |||
Phlebodium aureum
- Vitiligo Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 50 people | |||
Studies that measured vitiligo symptoms | ||||||
Kutki
- Vitiligo Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 30 people | |||
Studies that measured vitiligo symptoms | ||||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Afamelanotide
- Skin Repigmentation (Vitiligo): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Repigmentation (Vitiligo) 48.64% vs 33.26% repigmentation with NB-UVB combination | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 11 studies |
Key findings
- Repigmentation (VASI)Improves (the measure goes up)
The Vitiligo Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements
- Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (higher if deficient)
- Vitamin B12 and Folic AcidB12: 1,000 mcg daily; Folic acid: 5 mg daily
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Fullscript collectionSkin: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript
The collection holds the supplements we grade A or B for its theme, in third-party tested products where the catalog has them. It opens in our Fullscript store. You can look through it without signing in; Fullscript asks for a free account to order.
We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure
Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide 16 mg (SCENESSE) in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)
- Afamelanotide in managing cutaneous phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a Scottish perspective.
- Treatment Advances in Vitiligo: An Updated Review.
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review
- Bridging Molecular Mechanism and Clinical Practice in Vitiligo Treatment: An Updated Review.
- A systematic review of case series and clinical trials investigating systemic oral or injectable therapies for the treatment of vitiligo.
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review.
- A feasibility and safety study of afamelanotide in acute stroke patients - an open label, proof of concept, phase iia clinical trial.
- Afamelanotide Is Associated with Dose-Dependent Protective Effect from Liver Damage Related to Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.
- Applications of bakuchiol in dermatology: Systematic review of the literature
- Multidirectional activity of bakuchiol against cellular mechanisms of facial ageing - Experimental evidence for a holistic treatment approach
- Afamelanotide for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Afamelanotide for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- Immunopathogenesis and management of polymorphic light eruption.
- Beyond pigmentation: signs of liver protection during afamelanotide treatment in Swiss patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria, an observational study.
- Afamelanotide in combination with NB-UVB for treatment of vitiligo in an Asian population
- Psoralea corylifolia L: Ethnobotanical, biological, and chemical aspects: A review
- Corylin, a flavonoid derived from Psoralea Fructus, induces osteoblastic differentiation via estrogen and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo biloba in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis
- Current and innovative emerging therapies for porphyrias with hepatic involvement.
- Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing
- Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Outcomes
- Ginkgo biloba L. Historical Background and Current Applications in Medicine
- Ginkgo biloba and Brain Health: A Comprehensive Review
- Safety Profile of Ginkgo biloba Extract: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Ginkgo biloba Extract
- Neuroprotective Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract: A Review
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on Peripheral Arterial Disease: Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Meta-Analysis
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review.
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Cochrane Review Summary
- Ginkgo biloba for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Special Extract EGb 761 in Dementia: A Review
- Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba in Treating Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- Afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized multicenter trial
- Afamelanotide (CUV1647) in dermal phototoxicity of erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- Evaluation of the immunogenicity of the synthetic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analogue afamelanotide ([Nle4-D-Phe7]-α-MSH, Scenesse®) in erythropoietic protoporphyria patients by ELISA detecting both anti-afamelanotide and anti-α-MSH antibodies.
- Afamelanotide: first-in-class melanocortin 1 receptor agonist
- Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects
- Osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation stimulating activities of the main components of Fructus Psoraleae corylifoliae
- A bioassay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog afamelanotide in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria
- A review and update on melanocyte stimulating hormone therapy: afamelanotide.
- A one-year open-label safety study of afamelanotide in erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Neobavaisoflavone stimulates osteogenesis via p38-mediated up-regulation of transcription factors and osteoid genes expression in MC3T3-E1 cells
- Psoralen stimulates osteoblast differentiation through activation of BMP signaling
- Afamelanotide, an agonistic analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, in dermal phototoxicity of erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- Phytoestrogens from Psoralea corylifolia reveal estrogen receptor-subtype selectivity
- A randomized double-blind vehicle-controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of afamelanotide in the treatment of vitiligo
- An open-label, dose-escalation study of afamelanotide in erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) is only moderately effective in widespread vitiligo: a 10-year retrospective study
- Reduction of rise in blood pressure and cortisol release during stress by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in healthy volunteers
- Treatment of vitiligo with UV-B radiation vs topical psoralen plus UV-A
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on treadmill walking time among adults with peripheral artery disease: a randomized clinical trial
- Study of the antiischemic action of EGb 761 in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease by TcPo2 determination
- 6-Month double-blind randomised clinical trial of Ginkgo biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel groups in patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency
- Reduction of atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation and size by Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in cardiovascular high-risk patients
- Does Ginkgo biloba reduce the risk of cardiovascular events
- A new ginkgo fresh plant extract increases microcirculation and radical scavenging activity in elderly patients
- Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trial
- Polysomnographic effects of adjuvant ginkgo biloba therapy in patients with major depression medicated with trimipramine
- Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction
- A placebo-controlled study of extract of ginkgo biloba added to clozapine in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- The effect of extract of ginkgo biloba addition to olanzapine on therapeutic effect and antioxidant enzyme levels in patients with schizophrenia
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of extract of Ginkgo biloba added to haloperidol in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and its Val66Met gene polymorphism predict tardive dyskinesia treatment response to Ginkgo biloba
- Phase II study of Ginkgo biloba in irradiated brain tumor patients: effect on cognitive function, quality of life, and mood
- Triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugs
- Short- and long-term effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on sexual dysfunction in women
- An examination of the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on the neuropsychologic functioning of cognitively intact older adults
- Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in a sample of cognitively intact older adults: neuropsychological findings
- Cognitive performance, SPECT, and blood viscosity in elderly non-demented people using Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761(R), donepezil or both combined in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with neuropsychiatric features: a randomised, double-blind, exploratory trial
- Efficacy and tolerability of a once daily formulation of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: results from a randomised controlled trial
- Effects of Ginkgo biloba on cerebral blood flow assessed by quantitative MR perfusion imaging: a pilot study
- Ginkgo biloba special extract in dementia with neuropsychiatric features. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial
- Proof of efficacy of the ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia
- Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in dementia with neuropsychiatric features: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial to confirm the efficacy and safety of a daily dose of 240 mg
- Effect of Western medicine therapy assisted by Ginkgo biloba tablet on vascular cognitive impairment of none dementia
- A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia. North American EGb Study Group.
- Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial
- Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of severe acute mountain sickness (AMS) starting one day before rapid ascent
- Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled comparison of ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide for prevention of acute mountain sickness among Himalayan trekkers: the prevention of high altitude illness trial (PHAIT)
- Ginkgo biloba does--and does not--prevent acute mountain sickness
- Ginkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollagüe (3696 m) in northern Chile
- Ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- EGb 761 in control of acute mountain sickness and vascular reactivity to cold exposure
- Clonazepam quiets tinnitus: a randomised crossover study with Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus
- Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus: double blind, placebo controlled trial
- Effect of Ginkgo leaf extract on vascular endothelial function in patients with early stage diabetic nephropathy
- The effect of Li 1370, extract of Ginkgo biloba, on REM sleep in humans
- Ginkgo biloba for acute ischaemic stroke
- Long-term use of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (GuidAge): a randomised placebo-controlled trial
- Value of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in the management of congestive symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
- Influence of Ginkgo biloba on ocular blood flow
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on preexisting visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma