How Does High Glycemic Load Cause Acne?
Research indicates that high-glycemic load diets probably increase the risk of acne outbreaks by increasing insulin demand and other factors associated with insulin resistance, including hyperphagia (overeating), elevated nonesterified fatty acid levels, and obesity. As insulin resistance rises, the body’s cells demand more insulin, which the pancreas supplies (if it can). The resulting hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels in the blood) in turn increases the production of androgens (testosterone and DHEAS) and decreases a polypeptide protein hormone similar in molecular structure to insulin for insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic (tissue building) effects in adults. The sum total of these events may influence one or more of the major underlying causes of acne: 1) increased proliferation of basal keratinocytes within the pilosebaceous ducts surrounding hair follicles; 2) abnormal desquamation of follicular co
