The results of a new study suggests that there is another reason that diets with low glycemic loads are beneficial: in addition to improving insulin sensitivity can eliminate acne. Data from earlier studies suggest that dietary factors such as glycemic load, are involved in the pathogenesis of acne. Therefore, dietary changes alter the symptoms of this common skin disease, researchers believed. Foods that produce a high glycemic load, or high blood glucose levels, such as white bread and potatoes, tend to cause a spike in blood sugar. Conversely, other carbs, such as high-fiber cereals or beans, create a more gradual change and have a low glycemic index. The team led by Dr. Robyn N. Smith of RMIT University in

Melbourne, Australia, evaluated acne symptoms in 43 men aged between 15 and 25 who randomly received a low glycemic load diet or a normal diet for 12 weeks. The intervention diet consisted of 25 percent energy from protein and 45 percent carbohydrates with low glycemic index. The results were published in the July issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The low glycemic load diet significantly reduced total acne, unlike normal feeding. Also, this diet caused a greater decrease in weight and body mass, and increased sensitivity to insulin. Insulin resistance is a condition in which body cells become insensitive to the effects of insulin, thus reducing the body's response to a normal amount of insulin. Therefore, in cases of resistance requires higher amounts of the hormone insulin to function in the body. The team noted that the study is the first randomized controlled trial that analyzed the influence of the effects of glycemic load on acne. "Although we could not isolate the effect of low glycemic load diet of weight loss, the findings support the hypothesis of a relationship between high insulin levels and acne," they add.