Antioxidant-rich diets lead to a better quality of life in young women with acne

Antioxidant-rich diets lead to a better quality of life in young women with acne

A recent oneNutrientsJournal study examines whether dietary antioxidants affect the quality of life (QoL) of young women with acne vulgaris (AV).

What causes AV?

AV is a chronic skin disease that primarily develops in adolescence; However, in some cases, AV persists into adulthood. Approximately 9% of the world's population is affected by AV.

The characteristic features of AV include pustules, papules, nodules, and scars. For most people, acne occurs on the face and negatively impacts mental health and overall quality of life. Therefore, holistic intervention is crucial to alleviate the physical and psychological consequences of acne.

Previous studies have identified several factors that may be involved in the pathophysiology of acne, including age, physical inactivity, gender, and diet. Hormonal, inflammatory, environmental and genetic factors have also been shown to contribute to AV.

Regular consumption of vegetarian diet, Mediterranean diet, prebiotics, dietary probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber and low glycemic index foods has been shown to reduce acne lesions. In contrast, highly processed foods high in sugar, saturated fat, and milk can worsen acne lesions. Therefore, eating habits in young people might correlate with AV; However, further research is needed to elucidate the role of diet in the manifestation of AV.

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of AV. Although a small amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for proper immune system function, overproduction is associated with cell damage that can cause skin diseases. Dietary antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals and polyphenols can relieve oxidative stress.

About the study

The current study examined the association between dietary antioxidant quality index (DAQI) and quality of life in young women with AV. A total of 165 young women with AV between the ages of 18 and 35 were included in the study. All participants adhered to a daily diet of 500-5000 kcal.

Sociodemographic, lifestyle and acne data were collected from all study participants at baseline. Participants' height, education, marital status, body weight, smoking and alcohol consumption status were also determined. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of physical activity from low to moderate to high intensity.

Dietary intake was assessed using randomized 3-day dairy regimens that included two weekdays and one weekend day. Food consumption details were recorded on the selected days. The amounts of calories, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients were calculated.

The DAQI scale was used to evaluate vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium, dietary antioxidant capacity, phytosterols, lignans, and dietary polyphenols. The components of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were also evaluated.

Study results

The average age of the participants was 23.6 years. Around 88% of the cohort were single and 65% had an intermediate level of education.

Over 50% of the study cohort struggled with AV for two to five years, with some suffering with AV for over five years. Approximately 9% of the cohort had severe acne.

AV was found to have a moderate impact on the quality of life of study participantsSatisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS) test showed that these participants were, on average, satisfied with their lives. Approximately 33% of the study cohort showed signs of depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) test.

Although many study participants had an average BMI, drank alcohol occasionally, and engaged in moderate physical activity, a significant number of participants demonstrated low physical activity, were obese, smoked cigarettes, and drank alcohol once a week. Notably, the antioxidants in most participants' diets were below recommended levels.

Diet influences AV through gut microbiota, hormones, immune system, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Compared to developed countries with high adherence to the Western diet, developing countries had lower AV prevalence.

Study participants with a higher DAQI led a healthier lifestyle as most were non-smokers, had a lower BMI, and engaged in moderate physical activity. Higher DAQI reduced AV risk and improved quality of life by 30–33%.

Conclusions

Adhering to an antioxidant-rich diet reduced the risk of AV, which improved the study participants' risk of depression. In the future, DAQI could be used as an indicator of nutritional quality in patients with AV.

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