We investigated the relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and the occurrence of acne. Using a method called Mendelian randomization, we looked at how genetic variations associated with DHA might influence acne development in large groups of participants, including over 115,000 individuals from the UK and nearly 364,000 of Finnish ancestry.
Our findings revealed that higher levels of DHA are actually linked to a lower risk of developing acne. Specifically, we found that a significant increase in DHA levels or its proportion compared to total fatty acids corresponded with a reduced likelihood of acne. In contrast, higher levels of linoleic acid (LA), another type of PUFA, were associated with an increased acne risk.
This suggests that balancing our intake of these fatty acids might be important for skin health. Notably, the results pointed towards a genetic connection involving the FADS1 gene, which appears to play a role in how these fatty acids affect our skin.
In conclusion, increasing DHA could be beneficial in protecting against acne, while excessive linoleic acid might have the opposite effect. Overall, our study highlights the importance of these fatty acids in understanding acne risk better.