Poster – The Role of Diet in Acne Vulgaris in Teenagers

Poster – The Role of Diet in Acne Vulgaris in Teenagers

INTRODUCTION

• The role of diet in the development of acne vulgaris is still the object of controversy and the authors studied 1757 teenagers (aged 10 to 19) and after diagnosing acne clinically in some, they performed multiple data sampling and blood tests.
• Every time, they compared the results between the group of teenagers with acne vs the ones who were free of acne.

RESULTS

• 14.9% of this population group had acne (72 men and 139 women).
• Compared with the group without acne the BMI (Body Mass Index)was higher (20.4Kg/m2 +/- 0.3 vs 18.7 Kg/m2 +/- 0.1, p smaller than 0.001) (Normal values between 20 and 25).
• Blood iron and hemoglobin levels was higher in patients with acne (no mention of the statistical relevance).
• Daily intake of sweets is higher in the teenagers with acne vulgaris (197.6 g/j +/- 20.6 vs 152.5 +/- 11.9, p=0.048).
• Daily intake of dairy products is higher in teenagers with acne vulgaris (372 g/j +/-22.8 vs 327 g/j +/- 15.7, p=0.079).
• With the exception of fibres and saturated fatty acids,(where no difference is observed), there is a statistically significant difference:

1. in the daily intake of carbohydrates (p=0.001), lipids (p=0.005) and protein (p smaller than 0.001) as well as polyinsturated fatty acids (p=0.041), all of which are higher in teenagers with acne vulgaris
2. in the daily intake of monosaturated fatty acids (p=0.001) which is lower in teenagers with acne vulgaris
3. Daily energy intake is also higher in teenagers with acne vulgaris (p smaller than 0.001).
4. The differences or absence of differences related to chocolate consumption are not mentioned.

• The association between acne vulgaris and the BMI and caloric intake (energy intake) is unrelated to age and gender.
• The food intake was evluated according to the “three day method.”

CONCLUSION

• The study seems to confirm the association between certain foods and the development of acne vulgaris. However, in the absence of the understanding of a pathogenic mechanism, we are condemned to make epidemiologic hypotheses, to compare studies and therefore remain in controversy.

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information (French): Evaluation du role de l’alimentation dans la survenue de l’acne de l’adolescent. Fekih N et al. – Charles-Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia