Consuming more antioxidants may improve the quality of life among young women with acne, a new study suggests.
The study included 165 young women with acne who completed three-day food diaries and the Diet 6.0 program. Researchers used the new DAQI (dietary antioxidant quality index) to measure β-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, dietary antioxidant capacity, lignans, polyphenols, phytosterols, lignans, and the total antioxidant capacity of the diet. The antioxidant potential of the diet and the content of polyphenols, phytosterols, lignans, and selenium were calculated based on how often they ate individual food products and available databases.
The main takeaway? The quality of life of young women with acne was impaired, but those who consumed more antioxidants in their diet reported a higher quality of life than their counterparts who consumed fewer. The diet reduced the risk of acne’s impact on quality of life by approximately 30–32% and the risk of depression by 33%, the study showed.
People with a higher DAQI had a healthier lifestyle than those with a lower score, and a higher DAQI was associated with less severe acne.
Exactly how antioxidants may help boost quality of life among people with acne isn’t fully understood. “Inflammation caused by oxidative stress of the pilosebaceous unit and oxidation of sebum initiates the development of acne, “ conclude study authors from the Medical University of Białystok in Białystok, Poland. “A well-composed diet is a source of various antioxidants (vitamins, minerals, polyphenols) that may support the treatment of acne and improve quality of life.”
The study is published in Nutrients.
