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Circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress in people with acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

The relationship between acne vulgaris and oxidative stress biomarkers lacks a clear consensus. This study aimed to explore the potential correlation between acne vulgaris and circulating oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]). We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published before June 26, 2023. The literature search combined free words and the medical subject headings terms related to acne vulgaris, SOD, MDA, and TAC. Data were analyzed using Stata 15 software. Additionally, we conducted a subgroup analysis stratified by the severity of acne vulgaris. A total of 14 trials involving 1191 participants were included. Overall results revealed that acne vulgaris was associated with MDA concentrations (SMD = 1.73; 95% CI 1.05, 2.4; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated that the severity of acne vulgaris was correlated with levels of circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress. TAC concentrations were significantly lower in patients with moderate acne vulgaris compared to controls (SMD =  − 1.37; 95% CI =  − 2.15, − 0.58, P = 0.001). SOD concentrations were significantly lower (SMD =  − 2.92; 95% CI =  − 5.39, − 0.46, P = 0.02) and MDA concentrations were significantly higher (SMD = 2.26; 95% CI = 0.95, 3.57, P = 0.001) in patients with severe acne vulgaris compared to controls. Our results implied that oxidative stress may exist in acne vulgaris. Furthermore, the severity of acne vulgaris was also correlated with oxidative stress.

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Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SMD:

Standard mean differences

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TAC:

Total antioxidant capacity

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Funding

This work was supported by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Science Research Fund Project (No. 2023Y0469), and Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medical Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine Project (Dermatology).

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  1. Liang Su, Fang Wang and Yuan Wang contributed equally to this article.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China

    Liang Su, Xuesong Yang & Jianzhou Ye

  2. Department of Dermatology, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No 120, Guanghua Street, Kunming, 650021, China

    Liang Su, Xuesong Yang & Jianzhou Ye

  3. The First Clinical School of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China

    Fang Wang & Cheng Qin

  4. Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China

    Yuan Wang

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JY and XY: designed the review and provided methodological perspectives; LS and FW: performed the search, collected the data, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript; YW: wrote and reviewed the manuscript; CQ: reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Su, L., Wang, F., Wang, Y. et al. Circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress in people with acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dermatol Res 316, 105 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-024-02840-5

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