Nutritional anemia in reproductive age women with postadolescent acne.
BACKGROUND
Postadolescent acne has been defined as the presence of acne beyond the age of 25 years. Postadolescent acne affects approximately 14% of women between the ages of 25 and 50 years. Namely, postadolescent acne usually occurs in women of reproductive age. Nutritional anemia occurs from an insufficient intake of nutrients such as iron, folate and vitamin B12. It is very common in women of reproductive age. Nutritional anemia causes irritability, apathy, fatigue, depressive symptoms and difficulty in concentration. The major etiological factor in adult acne can be increased levels of emotional stress, leading to increase in adrenal androgens. Thus, nutritional anemia may aggravate the lesions of acne by affecting the emotional status in women of reproductive age.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the relationship between postadolescent acne and nutritional anemia in this study.


METHODS
The study population comprised of 52 patients with postadolescent acne and 52 healthy control subjects. Hemogram, vitamin B12, folate, serum iron, ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were measured.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed between both groups in hemoglobin, vitamin B12, serum iron, ferritin and TIBC levels. Serum folate levels were significantly decreased in postadolescent acne patients (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between hemoglobin, vitamin B12, folate, serum iron, ferritin and TIBC levels and acne severity.


CONCLUSIONS
We could not find any relationship between postadolescent acne and nutritional anemia in our study. However, serum folate levels were decreased in postadolescent acne patients. Prospective research studies are needed to clarify the role of nutrition in the pathophysiology of postadolescent acne. We think that nutritional interventions can be inexpensive, safe, easy to administer and generally acceptable to patients with postadolescent acne.
Department of Dermatology, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. drilknurderm@yahoo.com
Ilknur
I
Balta
Ozlem
O
Ekiz
Pinar
P
Ozuguz
Bilge Bulbul
BB
Sen
Sevket
S
Balta
Mustafa
M
Cakar
Sait
S
Demirkol
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12