Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Nutraceuticals for Treating Acne: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Patients with acne are interested in nutraceuticals as a potential treatment option. However, there is uncertainty regarding the efficacy and safety of these products. Objective: To evaluate the evidence for oral nutraceuticals in the treatment of acne. Evidence Review: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception through January 30, 2023, to identify randomized clinical trials evaluating oral nutraceutical interventions (ie, vitamins and minerals, botanical extracts, prebiotics, and probiotics) in individuals with acne. Clinician-reported outcomes (eg, investigator global assessment, lesion counts), patient-reported outcomes (eg, quality of life), and adverse events were extracted from the included studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias checklist tool for randomized clinical trials. Based on the Risk of Bias tool, articles were converted to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality standards of good, fair, or poor quality. Findings: A total of 2582 abstracts were identified in the database search, 42 of which met inclusion criteria (a total of 3346 participants). Studies of fair or good quality showed the potential benefit of vitamins B5 and D, botanical extracts (green tea), probiotics, and ω-3 fatty acids in the treatment of acne. These interventions were most frequently associated with decreased lesion counts or improved investigator global assessment scores. Adverse effects were rare for most of the therapies evaluated, but gastrointestinal tract adverse effects were reported for zinc therapy. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review suggests a possible role for nutraceutical supplements in the treatment of acne. Physicians should be prepared to discuss the evidence regarding the potential role of nutraceuticals with patients. Many studies were of small size, and future research should focus on larger randomized clinical trials to assess the utility of nutraceuticals in the treatment of acne.

Tai Chi Chuan training improves the pulmonary function of asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tai Chi Chuan, a traditional Chinese exercise, is thought to improve cardiopulmonary function in patients with chronic disease. This study investigated the effect of Tai Chi Chuan on the pulmonary function and daily symptoms of asthmatic children. METHODS: Thirty asthmatic children were enrolled into the study. Fifteen of the 30 children participated in a 12-week Tai Chi Chuan program and the remaining 15 constituted the control group. Prior to study participation, the pulmonary function of all enrolled children was assessed at rest, after exercise, and after exercise plus iced water. A 3-day symptoms questionnaire was also completed and a score obtained after each pulmonary function test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline pulmonary function and severity of asthmatic symptoms before study commencement, at rest, after exercise, or after exercise plus iced water. However, after the 12-week program, children in the Tai Chi Chuan group had a significant improvement in pulmonary function compared to the control group. Although there were no significant differences in post-training symptom scores at rest and after exercise between the two groups, under the stronger challenge of exercise plus iced water, children in the Tai Chi Chuan group had milder symptoms than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our data show that Tai Chi Chuan can improve the pulmonary function of asthmatic children. However, long-term follow-up is required to determine the impact of Tai Chi Chuan on the severity of asthmatic symptoms.