APPLE Study Findings

The APPLE Study (Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating), which was conducted by Dr Wendy Hall, Dr Thiviyani Maruthappu, and PhD student Sylvia Zanesco from King’s College, London has now concluded with the findings of the study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, which is available here.

The team found that following a healthy dietary pattern is linked to less severe psoriasis – this includes diets where more plant-based foods are eaten.

The team also found that participants with higher intakes of red meat and processed meat tended to have more severe psoriasis whereas higher intakes of fruits, nuts and pulses were associated with less severe psoriasis.

Sylvia Zanesco, student from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s who led the research said: “Our findings point to the potential benefits of dietary interventions in improving patient outcomes. Given the impact of psoriasis on physical and psychological well-being, incorporating dietary assessments into routine care could offer patients additional support in managing their condition.”

The research analysed data from 257 adults with psoriasis who had completed an online survey. Participants’ adherence to various diet quality scores, including the Mediterranean Diet Score, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index, was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.

Psoriasis severity was self-assessed using a validated questionnaire. Key findings from the study indicate that individuals with very low adherence to the DASH diet index and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index were significantly more likely to report higher psoriasis severity.

The findings of the study contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting dietary modification as a complementary strategy in psoriasis management to potentially alleviate disease severity and improve patients’ quality of life.

You can read the full summary of the APPLE study findings, is available in the British Journal of Nutrition linked at the top of the page, or in the PDF.

Sylvia is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and final year PhD student at King's College London and will be presenting her talk entitled ‘Linking diet and fasting with psoriasis’ at our upcoming annual conference in June.

Booking remains open and you can find more details below.

Conference 2025 Booking Information:

To book your spot for Right Treatment: Right Time' Annual Meeting 2025 simply click on the link here.

You can view and download the conference agenda here.

Tickets for members and guests are £15, and tickets for non-members and healthcare professionals are £25. Members are invited to attend our Annual General Meeting, which will take place as part of the conference at 12.40pm.

Refreshments and a buffet-style lunch are included with your ticket price, with vegetarian and vegan options available.