Research News

Cleveland Clinic researchers from the laboratory of Tatiana Byzova, PhD, think they might have figured out why some people swear by eating omega-3 fatty acids for skin health and hair growth, while others don’t. Their findings provide new evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can benefit skin and hair health, but that the benefits are influenced by the gut microbiome. 

The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, reports that dietary fats are processed differently throughout the body after digestion. Gut bacteria helps determine how those fats are digested and where they are distributed. Depending on which bacteria are present, different fats are broken down in different ways. The resulting lipid byproducts accumulate in hair follicles and skin cells, impacting those organs’ health and our overall appearance.

What are omega-3 fatty acids? 

Omega-3 fatty acids come from fatty fish, nuts and flaxseeds. They support heart health and manage inflammation. They are a class of polyunsaturated fats, meaning they stay liquid at room temperature. They are essential nutrients, meaning our bodies can’t make them but still need them to function. These molecules can come through diet or supplements. 

Some research studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids promote skin health and hair growth. Other research studies don’t show any connection. Dr. Byzova and her team wanted to understand why.  

First, the team, led by first author Irina Zhevlakova, MD, asked how different dietary fats affect skin and hair in general. 

In preclinical models, diets rich in saturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with greater fat accumulation in the skin and changes in sebaceous glands and hair follicles, organs that influence oil production and hair growth, respectively. 

Meanwhile, diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids were associated with less fat accumulation in the skin and with changes in sebaceous glands and hair follicles that were associated with reduced oil production and increased hair growth.

These findings showed that omega-3 fatty acids may influence skin and hair health differently than other dietary fats, but still didn’t explain why researchers and consumers saw such varied results. 

How the gut microbiome influences dietary fats and their effects on skin and hair 

In preclinical models, the team found that removing the gut microbiome increased how much of an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA enters the bloodstream. The more DHA entered the bloodstream, the more a different molecule called CEP was found in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Previous research from Dr. Byzova's laboratory has already shown that CEP can stimulate hair follicle cells and promote hair growth. 

Removing the gut microbiome also reduced some of the skin- and hair-related changes associated with saturated and omega-6 fatty acids. 

“Our data does not yet show that omega-3 supplements can treat acne or hair loss in people, but it definitely helps explain why the data until now has been so inconsistent. By focusing only on diet, we’ve only been looking at part of the story," Dr. Byzova says. “Gut bacteria help write the rest.”