Acne improvement linked to omega 3 supplementation and Mediterranean diet
New research suggests patients with omega 3 deficiencies may see reduced acne lesions and better skin outcomes when combining diet and supplements.
A German prospective cohort study found that patients with acne who had low levels of anti inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids showed significant improvements after 16 weeks of following a plant based Mediterranean diet and taking algae derived omega 3 supplements.
Study Details
Researchers at LMU Munich studied 60 patients aged 12 years and older with mild to moderate acne, including both comedonal and papulopustular forms. Importantly, these participants were not on prescription acne medications. The aim was to evaluate whether correcting omega 3 fatty acid deficiencies could improve skin health.
Methodology
All participants were instructed to follow a plant based Mediterranean diet and take oral algae derived omega 3 supplements for 16 weeks. Blood samples measured levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) before and after the intervention. Clinical assessments included both inflammatory and non inflammatory skin lesions as well as quality of life measures.
Key Findings
At baseline, nearly all patients (98.3%) had an EPA and DHA deficiency.
Omega 3 levels rose from 4.9% to 8.3% of total fatty acids in red blood cells (P < .001).
Patients with comedonal acne showed higher levels at 16 weeks compared with papulopustular acne (P = .035).
The share of patients with 10 or fewer non inflammatory lesions improved from 13.3% to 79.2%.
The share with 10 or fewer inflammatory lesions improved from 38.3% to 62.3%.
Three participants reported worsening appearance, but overall quality of life scores improved significantly, especially in papulopustular acne.
No adverse events were reported.
Implications for Practice
For dermatologists and patients, this study reinforces that diet and supplementation may serve as a useful adjunct to conventional acne care, especially when deficiencies are present. While prescription therapies remain central for moderate to severe acne, incorporating omega 3 fatty acids through diet and supplementation may reduce lesion counts and improve patient well being.
For patients, the findings suggest that lifestyle changes such as adopting a Mediterranean style diet and considering omega 3 supplementation may help manage acne alongside standard care. For clinicians, identifying and addressing omega 3 deficiencies could become part of holistic acne management.