Oxidant/antioxidant status in obese adolescent females with acne vulgaris

Abstract

Background and Objectives:Acne vulgaris is a distressing skin condition, which can carry with it significant psychological disability. Oxidant/antioxidant imbalance leads to increased production of free radicals, that cause many diseases. Some nutrients, along with systemic oxidative stress, have been implicated in acne vulgaris. The goal of the present study was to assess oxidant and antioxidant status in correlation with the incidence of acne vulgaris in adolescent obese females.Materials and Methods:A total of 60 adolescent females (age 16-22 years) were divided into four groups (15 each) as follows: The first included obese females with acne; the second included obese females without acne; the third included non obese with acne and the fourth included non obese without acne. Fasting serum Malondialdehyde (MDA), β-carotene, and Vitamins A, E, and C were measured. In addition, platelet monoamineoxidase (MAO), and erythrocyte catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) activities were determined.Results:It was found that serum MDA was statistically significantly decreased in obese and non obese subjects with acne, as compared to those without acne (P<0.05, P<0.001) respectively. In contrast, the levels of β-carotene, vitamins A, E and C and the activity of MAO were significantly decreased in the obese and non obese with acne, as against the obese and non obese without acne.Interpretation:In obese subjects, increased fat content facilitates free radical production and lipid peroxidation, as indicated by increased MDA level, which is scavenged by the antioxidant vitamins. The decreased activity of MAO may be inhibited by free radicals and this causes psychological depression in adolescents. However there were non significant changes in the activity of COMT among the studied groups.Conclusion:The nutritional factors and a weakened antioxidant defense system may interplay, to increase the risk of psychological sequelae in acne vulgaris.

Antioxidant status in patients with lichen planus

“…The serum level of antioxidants has been investigated in many skin disorders, including acne vulgaris, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, pemphigus vulgaris, psoriasis and vitiligo, all of which have an underlying autoimmune basis 2,7–11,18,21 …”

“…Reduced antioxidant levels as a result of extended release of ROS, such as in chronic inflammation, increase oxidative damage 7 . Many studies have implicated ROS in several autoimmune skin disorders, with a corresponding protective role for antioxidants 7–11 . Roughly 17 different antioxidants have been studied in patients with LP to date; 12–17 but to our knowledge, no study has evaluated levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), selenium and bilirubin in patients with LP, although these have been studied in other autoimmune skin disorders 8,10,18–20 …”

Clinical implications of lipid peroxidation in acne vulgaris: old wine in new bottles

“…Indeed, the severity of acne showed a negative correlation with blood antioxidants, such that the vitamin A levels in those with the most severe acne were 52% lower and the vitamin E levels were 31% lower vs. healthy age-matched controls [40]. Low serum levels of vitamins A and E, as well as beta-carotene and vitamin C, have also been reported in a group of 45 female acne patients vs. healthy controls (respectively vitamin A 33%, vitamin C 40%, vitamin E 46%, beta-carotene 64% lower on average) [41]. Low serum levels of vitamin A in untreated acne patients had been previously documented in 1978 [42].…”

Effects of Isotretinoin on the Platelet Counts and the Mean Platelet Volume in Patients with Acne Vulgaris

“…Prevalence of acne vulgaris is 95–100% in males between the ages of 16-17 and 83–85% in females [2]. If remains untreated, this common disease can cause both several psychological disorders and cosmetic problems [3]. …”