Association of serum adiponectin, lipid profile, and food quality with acne vulgaris severity

Abstract

Background Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit characterized by increased sebum production in response to androgens. Adiponectin is a protein expressed in human adipocytes that reduces tissue triglyceride (TG) content. A contradictory relationship was detected between lipid profile and AV. Moreover, dietary glycemic index and glycemic load have been shown to be inversely associated with adiponectin concentrations.Objective We aimed to investigate the relationship between blood lipid profile, serum adiponectin, and quality of food in adolescent patients with AV and its correlation with AV severity.Patients and methods A total of 45 Egyptian adolescent male and female patients with AV were recruited from the Outpatient Clinics of Dermatology of Mansoura University Hospitals (with mean age 19.9 years); moreover, 35 apparently healthy individuals of matched age, sex, and BMI were selected as a control group. Serum adiponectin, total cholesterol (TC), TGs, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were assessed by appropriate kits.Results TC, TG, and LDL were significantly higher and HDL was significantly lower in AV cases when compared with control groups. AV cases showed significantly higher adiponectin concentration when compared with the control group. Adiponectin showed significant positive correlations with female sex, disease grade, TC, LDL, dairy+hyperglycemic food, hyperglycemic+fatty food, and dairy+hyperglycemic+fatty food and a significant negative correlation with HDL. Smoking, dairy+hyperglycemic food, hyperglycemic+fatty food, dairy+hyperglycemic+fatty food, high TC, LDL, and adiponectin were significantly associated with more severe AV.Conclusion Adiponectin and quality of food may play a role in the pathogenesis of AV and may affect its severity.