Whey Protein Supplementation and Male Acne

According to a study published in The Journal of Dermatology, whey protein (WP) is noninferior in terms of its impact on acne, suggesting it may not exacerbate the condition as previously speculated.

Researchers aimed to investigate whether WP consumption impacts acne severity in men with mild to moderate facial and/or truncal acne. They conducted a noninferiority trial with 49 male participants. They were randomized into 2 groups: the WP group (n = 25) and the non-WP group (n = 24). The WP group received 30 g of WP daily along with an 18 g non-WP nutritional supplement, while the control group received a 46 g non-WP supplement. Acne severity was assessed at follow-up appointments by evaluating the total acne lesions, including comedonal and inflammatory lesions, and the overall severity.

The participants had a mean age of approximately 20 years. The WP group showed a mean difference of -5.99 in total facial acne lesions compared to the non-WP group, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of -13.18 to 1.19 (P = 0.09). For truncal acne lesions, the mean difference was -2.18 (95% CI, -11.83 to 7.48, P = 0.65). Only 1 participant (4.3%) in the non-WP group reported a significant increase in acne severity according to the Investigator Global Assessment scale.

The study concluded that WP supplementation in men with mild to moderate acne did not lead to a significant increase in total acne lesions or severity compared to the non-WP group over a 6-month period.

Reference
Sompochpruetikul K, Khongcharoensombat T, Chongpison Y, et al. Whey protein and male acne: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. J Dermatol. 2024;51(7):1022-1025. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.17109