Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation May Help Alleviate Acne Severity  

According to a recent study, increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids through dietary intervention and supplementation may alleviate acne severity.

Over a 16-week period, researchers conducted a study which included 60 patients without prescription medication. The patients adhered to a Mediterranean diet and incorporated oral algae-derived omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) supplementation. This supplementation involved 600 mg of DHA and 300 mg of EPA from week 1 to week 8 and then 800 mg DHA and 400 mg EPA from week 8 to week 16.

Throughout four visits, blood EPA/DHA levels were tracked using the HS-omega 3 index®.

At baseline, a total of 98.3% of the patients had an EPA/DHA deficit according to the HS-omega-3 Index®. Throughout the study, the mean HS-omega-3 Index® increased from 4.9% at Visit 1 to 8.3% at Visit 4. Researchers also noted that at Visit 4, patients with acne comedonica (AC) had a significantly higher HS-omega-3 Index® compared to acne papulopustulosa (AP).

The authors further note that the severity of acne improved significantly over the course of the study, with results showing a reduction in the absolute number of noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions between Visit 1 and Visit 4. When comparing Visit 1 and Visit 4, a total of 42 patients (79.2%) self-reported an improvement in acne severity, seven (13.2%) stated it remained unchanged, and four (7.5%) reported it worsened. As it concerns the overall quality of life, the mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores decreased from 4.9 at Visit 1 to 2.4 at Visit 4, with improvement more pronounced in the AP group.

Looking at diet, it was seen that higher acne severity was linked to the consumption of refined sugar (53.3%), alcohol (53.3%), chocolate (51.7%), cow’s milk (46.7%) and saturated fats (46.7%), but not to vegetables (23%), fruit (20%), nuts (11.7%) and whole grains (11.7%).

The authors concluded, “Many patients with acne have an EPA/DHA deficit. Lifestyle interventions, including a plant-focused Mediterranean diet and EPA/DHA supplementation for 16 weeks, led to a significant increase in ω-3 FA levels, as assessed by the HS-omega-3 Index®, in patients with mild to moderate acne. Improvements in clinical appearance and quality of life were observed. While this study evaluated the approach as a stand-alone treatment, future studies should investigate ω-3 FA as an adjunct to any acne treatment plan.”

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