It was an unexpected discovery.
A small pilot study conducted by Luigi Barrea and his team from the Università Telematica Pegaso in Naples, Italy, revealed an unexpected benefit for young women seeking weight loss through a low-calorie keto diet: an improvement in their acne.
Presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Italy, the study focused on the connection between acne, obesity, and inflammation. Acne, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the hair follicle and sebaceous gland, impacts about 9% of the global population, often in teenage years. Barrea’s team aimed to explore whether the ketogenic diet’s anti-inflammatory properties could alleviate acne symptoms.
The study involved 31 obese young women, aged 18 to 30, with moderate acne. Over 45 days, they adhered to a very low-calorie ketogenic diet, consuming only 700–800 kilocalories per day, with a composition of 44% fat, 43% protein, and 13% carbohydrates.
Despite experiencing mild adverse effects like headaches and muscle weakness, the participants achieved remarkable weight loss, averaging about 8% of their body weight and a similar reduction in waistline measurements. Concurrently, their acne improved significantly, with a 41.5% average reduction in acne severity measured by a standard grading scale.
Moreover, participants reported a substantial enhancement in life satisfaction, indicating a 45% improvement in their quality of life. The study also observed improvements in markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiome health, suggesting a scientific basis for the acne relief experienced by the participants.
Barrea emphasized that while these findings are promising, the study was small and preliminary. Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of the very low-calorie ketogenic diet in treating acne on a larger scale. However, if validated, this dietary approach could offer a valuable alternative to traditional acne treatments, potentially benefiting thousands affected by the condition.
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