Dark and white chocolate consumption and acne vulgaris: A case-control study

Abstract

The association between chocolate consumption and acne vulgaris is a historical enigma. This study sought to investigate the effect of dark and white chocolate consumption on acne lesions. In this case-control, clinical trial, 57 volunteers with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris were randomized in three groups, receiving 100 g of either white or dark (100%) chocolate bars daily for 30 consecutive days (case groups) or no chocolate (control group) during the study period. Facial acne noninflamed, inflamed and total lesions were counted at baseline, on week 2 and at endpoint (day 30). In white chocolate group, there were 11 males (61.1%) and 7 females (38.9%) with a mean age of 17.9آ±7.2 years (range: 12-29). In dark chocolate group, there were 14 males (73.7%) and 5 females (26%) with a mean age of 17.6آ±6.0 years (range: 12-29). In control group, there were 13 males (65%) and 7 females (35%) with a mean age of 17.7آ±6.6 years (range: 12-29). The three groups were comparable for sex (p = 0.71) and age (p = 0.99). No significant difference was found between the patients in dark chocolate group and those served as controls in terms of changes in acne lesions (p>0.05). All noninflamed (p = 0.02), inflamed (p = 0.04) and total (p = 0.02) acne lesions in white chocolate group, however, increased significantly in comparison with the two other groups. According to this study, white but not dark chocolate consumption is associated with exacerbation of acne lesions. é 2014 Asian Network for Scientific Information.