title: Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and histological changes induced by dietary omega-3 fatty acid and γ-linoleic acid in acne vulgaris. A 10-week, randomised, controlled parallel dietary intervention study was performed in 45 participants with mild to moderate acne, which were allocated to either an omega-3 fatty acid group (2,000 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), a γ-linoleic acid group (borage oil containing 400 mg γ-linoleic acid), or a control group. After 10 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid or γ-linoleic acid supplementation, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions decreased significantly. Patient subjective assessment of improvement showed a similar result. Heamatoxylin & eosin staining of acne lesions demonstrated reductions in inflammation and immunohistochemical staining intensity for interleukin-8. No severe adverse effect was reported. This study shows for the first time that omega-3 fatty acid and γ-linoleic acid could be used as adjuvant treatments for acne patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyuck Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jong Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Mi Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Dae Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid