Study: Omega 3 With Mediterranean Diet Could Possibly Aid Acne Severity

Individuals that took an omega-3 fatty acid supplement and followed the Mediterranean diet displayed significant reductions in inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions, along with an improved quality of life, according to research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.¹

Image credit: Jacob Lund | stock.adobe.com

Omega-3 fatty acids contain 2 beneficial components eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA can enter the body through the consumption of fish and other seafood. However, study authors noted that an omega-3 dietary supplement can be consumed if an individual does not meet their daily needs.²

Both EPA and DHA are nutrients are reported to contain anti-inflammatory properties that could aid pro-inflammatory cytokines, eicosanoids, and insulin-like growth factor-1—potentially resolving severe acne, according to study authors.³

To evaluate the efficacy of EPA and DHA levels to aid patients that experience acne, researchers assessed dietary intervention and supplementation to detect clinical impacts in a single-center intervention study directed at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.²

The study included 60 individuals that experienced mild to moderate acne with mean acne persistence for 8.9 and 5.5 years, respectively, and had a mean age of 26 years. The individuals were assessed over 16 weeks with 4 study visits at baseline, weeks 6, 12, and 16. Study authors noted that the participants were required to be 12 years and older and refrained from using prescription medicated acne treatments 4 weeks prior to the study. Throughout the study, the individuals were encouraged to follow a plant-based Mediterranean diet and reduce consumption of processed foods, dairy products, and meat. Additionally, the researchers recommended the intake of an omega-3 supplement that contains 200 mg of DHA and 100 mg of EPA. At each baseline visit the individuals increased a capsule of the supplement, ending with 4 capsules daily at the 16-week mark.²

Throughout the 16 weeks the individuals had to complete detailed investigator-developed questionaries that surveyed which foods aggravated their acne and the impact acne had on their quality of life.²

The primary objective of the study aimed to evaluate the HS-omega-3 index among individuals and acne as the secondary outcomes, which were aimed to assess the severity in terms of diet and rate the individual’s quality of life due to their acne.²

The study authors noted that at baseline 98.3% of individuals displayed a deficit in EPA and DHA. However, as the study continued, the mean of HS-omega-3 Index increased from 4.9% at baseline to 8.3% at week 16. The results displayed that acne severity displayed significant improvement over the course of the study with a reduction in noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions. Individuals that followed the Mediterranean diet with the intake of EPA-DHA supplements displayed an increase in omega-3 levels which improved clinical appearance and the quality of life among patients.²

“Lifestyle interventions, including dietary recommendations, should not be considered in opposition to prescription medications, but rather as a valuable adjunct to any modern acne treatment plan,” said corresponding author Anne Guertler, MD, of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, in a news release.“Future studies should build on the foundation laid by our current findings in a randomized, placebo-controlled design to improve dietary recommendations for acne patients.”¹

References

1. Can omega-3 fatty acid intake affect acne severity? EurekAlert! News release. July 10, 2024. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1050496.

2. B. Cole. Omega-3 Recommendations: Counseling Points for Pharmacists. Pharmacy Times. News release. April 27, 2020. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/omega-3-recommendations-counseling-points-for-pharmacists.

3. Exploring the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in acne patients: A prospective intervention study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. News release. July 10, 2024. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.16434.