A small study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may offer a promising adjunctive treatment for acne vulgaris.
Researchers at the University Hospital of Munich conducted a 16-week prospective intervention study involving 60 patients (58 female, two male) with mild to moderate acne. The subjects had a mean age of 26.1 years and average acne persistence of 8.9 years. The study aimed to elevate eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels through dietary intervention and supplementation, while observing subsequent clinical effects.
At baseline, a surprising 98.3% of patients exhibited an omega-3 fatty acid deficit, as measured by the HS-omega 3 index. This index, which measures EPA and DHA as a percentage of total identified fatty acids in erythrocytes, increased significantly to 8.3% after the study from a mean of 4.9% at the study’s initiation (p<0.001).
The participants, who were not on any prescription acne therapies, were instructed to follow a plant-focused Mediterranean diet and provided with algae-derived omega-3 supplements. The supplementation regimen consisted of 600 mg DHA and 300 mg EPA daily for the first eight weeks, increasing to 800 mg DHA and 400 mg EPA daily for the remaining eight weeks.
The study revealed significant improvements in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions (p<0.001). Notably, patients with comedonal acne showed higher omega-3 indices than those with papulopustular acne at the study's conclusion (p=0.035).
Dr. Anne Guertler, the study’s lead author, emphasized the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in acne management. “Our findings suggest that many acne patients have an omega-3 fatty acid deficit, which can be effectively addressed through dietary changes and supplementation. The significant improvement in acne severity observed in patients who achieved target omega-3 levels is particularly encouraging,” Dr. Guertler noted in the article.
The study also reported improvements in patients’ quality of life, particularly among those with papulopustular acne. Interestingly, while patients more clearly identified dietary triggers for their acne, they were less certain about foods that might be beneficial. The study noted a reduction in the intake of cow’s milk and dairy products among participants (p<0.001).
The researchers propose several mechanisms by which omega-3 fatty acids may impact acne, including modulation of sebum production, reduction of inflammatory cytokines, inhibition of Cutibacterium acnes growth, improvement of skin barrier function, and antioxidant properties.
While the results are promising, the authors caution that larger, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings and establish optimal dosing regimens. They also note the importance of assessing omega-3 fatty acid levels in acne patients, given the high prevalence of deficiency observed in this cohort.
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