Nutraceuticals in Acne: A Novel Therapy Insight

Original Article: Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Nutraceuticals for Treating Acne: A Systematic Review

What are the key takeaways of this article?

In a novel systematic review conducted by Shields et al., the potential role of oral nutraceuticals in the management of acne was extensively examined. The meticulous review encompassed 42 unique studies involving 3346 participants, shedding light on the effectiveness of various nutraceuticals. The findings unveiled that four high-quality studies particularly underscored the therapeutic potential of Vitamin D, green tea extract, probiotics, and Cheongsangbangpoong-tang in treating acne. Additionally, several other nutraceuticals including pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), ω (omega)-3 and ω-6 fatty acids demonstrated efficacy in a set of fair-quality studies.

The evidence synthesized in this review illustrated a promising, albeit initial, recognition of nutraceutical supplements in the acne treatment landscape. Notably, the interventions often correlated with decreased lesion counts or improved investigator global assessment scores, underpinning their potential clinical value. Moreover, the nutraceutical interventions were well-tolerated with minimal or no adverse effects, reinforcing their appeal as complementary or alternative treatment modalities.

Among the multitude of nutraceuticals explored, zinc emerged as a heavily studied yet heterogeneous entity in its results; higher doses tended to exhibit better efficacy and zinc, as a whole, had the highest reporting of adverse effects out of all the nutraceuticals in the study. However, a substantial portion of studies on zinc were marked by poor quality, thereby necessitating cautious interpretation of the findings. On a similar note, despite Vitamin A's historical usage in acne management, the review underscored a glaring lack of up-to-date randomized clinical trials to substantiate its role, apart from its potential adverse effects at high doses akin to isotretinoin. The review also delved into the realm of botanical extracts and probiotics, with green tea extract and certain probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1 and Lactobacillus plantarum showcasing efficacy in reducing acne lesions. The analysis further extended to other nutraceuticals like fatty acids and the herbal formula Cheongsangbangpoong-tang, which also demonstrated promising results.

Overall, Shields et al. accentuated the emergent evidence supporting nutraceutical supplements in acne management. However, they also highlighted the imperative for larger, meticulously designed trials to elucidate the precise efficacy and safety profiles of these nutraceuticals, thereby aiding physicians in fostering informed discussions with patients regarding their use in acne treatment. The review underscores a budding paradigm where nutraceuticals could potentially merge with or serve as alternatives to conventional acne therapies, albeit further robust research is warranted to substantiate this prospect.

Publication Date: November 12th, 2023

Reference: Shields A, Ly S, Wafae B, et al. Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Nutraceuticals for Treating Acne: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 25, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.3949

Summary by: Parsa Abdi