What is the benefit of Omega-3 for acne?

 

Dermatologists in Germany have identified what may be a crucial link between acne and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

 

The team behind the study, based at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy in Munich, examined 100 acne patients and, by measuring nutritional parameters in their blood, found that 94% of patients had lower than recommended levels (8-11%). of omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3-FA).

 

The diet of the patients was examined and it was found that those who regularly consumed pulses such as chickpeas and lentils, as well as those who limited their consumption of sunflower oil, had higher levels of the key  fatty acids.

 

The dermatology team behind the study urged clinicians to always ask about the eating habits of acne patients , as this is of great importance when discussing the diagnosis and treatment of their condition.

 

Nutrition plays a major role in the prevention, onset and course of many diseases, including dermatological diseases such as acne vulgaris, scientists explain.

 

As part of a modern treatment approach, clinicians should provide patients with information about how their diet  may affect their dermatologic diagnosis and potentially improve therapeutic outcomes.

 

For years, negative effects on acne vulgaris have been attributed to the Western diet due to its direct effects on IGF-1 levels.

 

However, the preventive and therapeutic measures accompanying the diet have not yet been considered sufficiently.

 

In this regard, omega-3 fatty acids  seem most promising due to their anti-inflammatory effects.

 

A healthy diet is essential for long-term remission of acne vulgaris.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods such as legumes, algae, nuts, seeds, fish such as wild salmon and sardines, reduce inflammation by stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins E1 and E3, leukotriene B5 and lowering levels of insulin-like growth factor ( IGF)-1 - the central hormone that causes acne .

 

In the study, patients with omega-3 levels lower than 8% showed higher levels of IGF-1, compared to patients without fatty acid deficiency.

 

The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood of patients with acne in erythrocytes and correlate them with the clinical severity of the disease and the dietary habits of the patients.

 

Data show a trend toward omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in the general population.

 

The study confirmed a worsening of acne in patients diagnosed with omega-3 deficiency.

 

References:

https://eadvsymposium2022.org/