Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 57, Issue 2 , Pages 247-256, August 2007

The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic–load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic–load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: A randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial

  • Robyn N. Smith, BAppSc (Hons)

      Affiliations

    • From the School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Robyn Smith, BAppSc (Hons), School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3001.
    • ,
  • Neil J. Mann, BSc (Hons), BAppSc, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne
    • ,
  • Anna Braue, MBBS, MMed

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville
    • ,
  • Henna Mäkeläinen, BAppSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Turku University
    • ,
  • George A. Varigos, MBBS, FACD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville
    • Department of Dermatology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville

Accepted 9 January 2007. published online 20 April 2007.

Melbourne and Parkville, Australia; and Turku, Finland

Background

No previous study has sought to examine the influence of dietary composition on acne vulgaris.

Objective

We sought to compare the effect of an experimental low glycemic–load diet with a conventional high glycemic–load diet on clinical and endocrine aspects of acne vulgaris.

Methods

A total of 43 male patients with acne completed a 12-week, parallel, dietary intervention study with investigator-masked dermatology assessments. Primary outcomes measures were changes in lesion counts, sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.

Results

At 12 weeks, total lesion counts had decreased more in the experimental group (−21.9 [95% confidence interval, −26.8 to −19.0]) compared with the control group (−13.8 [−19.1 to −8.5], P = .01). The experimental diet also reduced weight (P = .001), reduced the free androgen index (P = .04), and increased insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (P = .001) when compared with a high glycemic–load diet.

Limitations

We could not preclude the role of weight loss in the overall treatment effect.

Conclusion

This suggests nutrition-related lifestyle factors play a role in acne pathogenesis. However, these preliminary findings should be confirmed by similar studies.

Abbreviations used: BMI, body mass index, CV, coefficient of variation, DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, FAI, free androgen index, GI, glycemic index, HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, IGF, insulin-like growth factor, IGFBP, insulin-like growth factor binding protein, LGL, low glycemic load, PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, SHBG, sex hormone binding globulin

 

 The study was supported by a research grant from Meat and Livestock Australia.Disclosure: This study was the responsibility of the investigators. Meat and Livestock Australia had no role in data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or submission for publication. Ms Smith receives a postgraduate scholarship from MINTRAC (National Meat Industry Training Council of Australia). Authors Mann, Braue, Mäkeläinen, and Varigos had no conflicts of interest to disclose.Presented at the 15th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Meeting in Rhodes, October 5, 2006, and at the Nutrition Society of Australia Meeting in Melbourne, December 2, 2005.

PII: S0190-9622(07)00414-8

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2007.01.046

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 57, Issue 2 , Pages 247-256, August 2007