Investigating the role of dietary glycemic factors and antioxidant capacity, metabolic status, and oxidative stress in seborrheic dermatitis: A case-control study.

Abstract

The etiopathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) remains unexplained, although several factors have been considered in this regard. The aim of this study is to investigate diet, metabolic status, and oxidative stress in SD patients. This prospective, single-center, case-control study included 49 SD patients and 40 gender- and age-matched healthy controls. Dietary total antioxidant capacity values were significantly lower in SD patients than among the controls (7.16 ± 2.66 vs 12.85 ± 4.26; P < .001). Glycemic load (GL) values were significantly higher in SD patients (187.2 ± 57.2 vs 110.6 ± 46.5; P < .001). The glycemic index and GL values of patients with severe SD were significantly higher than those with mild SD (P = .014, P = .017; respectively). The cross-sectional design, small sample size, and the relatively short duration of questioning dietary habits are the limitations of the study. A diet rich in antioxidants and with low glycemic index/GL content may be beneficial in the treatment of SD.