Associations of Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Dietary Glycemic Index, and Antioxidant Intake With Acne Vulgaris: A Case–Control Study in Young Adults
- 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences Aydın Adnan Menderes University Aydın Turkey
- 2Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Aydın Adnan Menderes University Aydın Turkey
Abstract
Background: Dietary patterns, glycemic characteristics, and oxidative balance have been implicated in acne vulgaris, although findings remain inconsistent.
Aim: This study evaluated the associations of Mediterranean diet adherence, dietary glycemic index (GI), and dietary antioxidant score with acne vulgaris in young adults.
Methods: This case–control study included 279 participants (115 acne/164 controls). Dietary intake was assessed using three‐day food records, and Mediterranean diet adherence was evaluated with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Individual MEDAS components were compared using Holm adjustment. Two forced‐entry multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations with acne status while adjusting for age, BMI, sex, education, and vitamin/mineral supplementation.
Results: Participants with acne had lower MEDAS scores than controls (5.97 ± 2.22 vs. 7.02 ± 2.12; p < 0.001), whereas dietary GI did not differ between groups (57.57 ± 4.99 vs. 57.74 ± 7.13; p = 0.821). Dietary antioxidant scores were higher in the acne group (3.74 ± 2.53 vs. 3.02 ± 2.46; p = 0.019). After Holm correction, only the vegetable and butter/cream/margarine criteria remained significantly different. Failure to meet these criteria was independently associated with higher odds of acne (aOR = 3.242 and 2.413, respectively). Higher MEDAS scores were inversely associated with acne (aOR = 0.806; 95% CI: 0.710–0.915), while higher dietary antioxidant scores showed a modest positive association (aOR = 1.126; 95% CI: 1.008–1.258). Dietary GI was not independently associated with acne (aOR = 1.049; 95% CI: 0.685–1.607).
Conclusions: Lower Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with higher odds of acne vulgaris, whereas dietary GI was not independently associated. The positive association observed for dietary antioxidant score should be interpreted cautiously given the case–control design and potential residual confounding.
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BibTeX
@article{ozturansirin2026associations,
title = {{Associations of Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Dietary Glycemic Index, and Antioxidant Intake With Acne Vulgaris: A Case–Control Study in Young Adults}},
author = {Ayçıl Özturan‐Şirin and Aydan Yazıcı},
journal = {Journal of cosmetic dermatology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/jocd.71256},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13715055},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations of Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Dietary Glycemic Index, and Antioxidant Intake With Acne Vulgaris: A Case–Control Study in Young Adults
AU - Ayçıl Özturan‐Şirin
AU - Aydan Yazıcı
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Journal of cosmetic dermatology
DO - 10.1111/jocd.71256
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13715055
AB - Background: Dietary patterns, glycemic characteristics, and oxidative balance have been implicated in acne vulgaris, although findings remain inconsistent. Aim: This study evaluated the associations of Mediterranean diet adherence, dietary glycemic index (GI), and dietary antioxidant score with acne vulgaris in young adults. Methods: This case–control study included 279 participants (115 acne/164 controls). Dietary intake was assessed using three‐day food records, and Mediterranean diet adherence was evaluated with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Individual MEDAS components were compared using Holm adjustment. Two forced‐entry multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations with acne status while adjusting for age, BMI, sex, education, and vitamin/mineral supplementation. Results: Participants with acne had lower MEDAS scores than controls (5.97 ± 2.22 vs. 7.02 ± 2.12; p < 0.001), whereas dietary GI did not differ between groups (57.57 ± 4.99 vs. 57.74 ± 7.13; p = 0.821). Dietary antioxidant scores were higher in the acne group (3.74 ± 2.53 vs. 3.02 ± 2.46; p = 0.019). After Holm correction, only the vegetable and butter/cream/margarine criteria remained significantly different. Failure to meet these criteria was independently associated with higher odds of acne (aOR = 3.242 and 2.413, respectively). Higher MEDAS scores were inversely associated with acne (aOR = 0.806; 95% CI: 0.710–0.915), while higher dietary antioxidant scores showed a modest positive association (aOR = 1.126; 95% CI: 1.008–1.258). Dietary GI was not independently associated with acne (aOR = 1.049; 95% CI: 0.685–1.607). Conclusions: Lower Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with higher odds of acne vulgaris, whereas dietary GI was not independently associated. The positive association observed for dietary antioxidant score should be interpreted cautiously given the case–control design and potential residual confounding.
SN - 1473-2130
SN - 1473-2165
ER -