From the Guidelines
To effectively treat plantar verrucae, it is crucial to focus on nutritional factors that boost the immune system, with a particular emphasis on zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D, as these have been shown to support immune function and potentially aid in the clearance of warts. When considering the treatment of plantar warts, it's essential to look at the most recent and highest quality evidence available. However, the provided evidence 1 primarily discusses various treatment options such as salicylic acid, cryotherapy, and other therapies but does not directly address nutritional factors. Despite the lack of direct evidence on nutrition in the provided study, general medical knowledge suggests that a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole foods can support immune function. Key nutrients include:
- Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, berries, and bell peppers, which supports immune function
- Zinc, found in oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and legumes, which is crucial for immune function and has been linked to the resolution of warts
- Vitamin D, obtained through sun exposure or supplements, which helps regulate immune responses
- Probiotics, found in yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods, which support gut health and are connected to immune function While the study 1 does not provide direct guidance on nutritional factors for treating plantar warts, focusing on these immune-boosting nutrients can complement medical treatments by strengthening the body's natural defenses against the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes warts.
From the Research
Nutritional Factors for Treating Plantar Verrucae
- Vitamin D3 has been reported as a successful treatment for plantar warts, with 80% of patients showing complete response to intralesional vitamin D3 injections 2
- Zinc sulfate has also been found to be an effective treatment modality for plantar warts, with 70% of patients showing complete response to intralesional zinc sulfate injections 2
- There is no direct evidence on the role of nutritional factors in treating plantar verrucae, but the studies suggest that topical treatments such as vitamin D3 and zinc sulfate can be effective in treating plantar warts 2
Comparison of Treatments
- Topical application of 1% cantharidin, 20% podophylotoxin, 30% salicylic acid (CPS) was found to be more effective than cryotherapy in treating plantar warts 3, 4
- Intralesional bleomycin injection (INB) and microneedles plus bleomycin (MNB) were also found to be effective treatments for plantar warts 4
- Salicylic acid (SA) and cryotherapy were not found to be superior to no treatment in terms of complete response 4
Economic Evaluation
- Cryotherapy was found to be more costly and no more effective than salicylic acid in treating plantar warts 5