Study
For twenty weeks, the experimental group consumed 60 grams of almonds daily. That's two handfuls. Or, to be more precise, we're talking about about 45 to 55 almonds, which together provided 350 calories.
The control group ate a bowl of roasted grains and legumes daily. These provided the same amount of energy as the almonds.
The study was funded by the Almond Board of California. This is an organization of almond growers that regularly funds research on the health benefits of almonds.
Results
The total number of blackheads, red spots, bumps, and pimples - general term: lesions - decreased in both groups, but the decrease was significantly greater in the experimental group.
Click on the tables below for a larger version.
In both groups, a few subjects experienced almost complete skin recovery. However, there were more in the experimental group than in the control group.
Mechanisms
Adding almonds to the diet increased the diversity of the bacterial population on the subjects' skin.
Furthermore, the concentration of TNF-alpha in the subjects' blood decreased. This indicates a reduction in the intensity of inflammation in the body.
Healthier
In addition, supplementation decreased LDL levels and increased HDL levels.
Conclusion
"Given the rising prevalence of adult acne and the growing interest in lifestyle-based, non-pharmacological management approaches, the findings underscore the potential of almonds as a nutrient-dense snacking option that can complement standard acne treatments with long-term benefits for both skin and metabolic health," the researchers write.
"The observed consistency of improvements across outcomes shows that almonds may exert multi-system benefits relevant to acne, highlighting a promising avenue for future research to explore food-microbiome-skin interactions in adult acne."
