FINDINGS
Vitamin B-12 tweaks how genes behave in the facial bacteria of some people who normally enjoy clear skin. The altered activity of the facial bacteria promotes inflammation and leads to pimples.
IMPACT
By shedding light on one mechanism behind B-12’s role in acne, the UCLA research may identify drug targets that lead to new treatments for acne.
AUTHOR
Huiying Li, an assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
FUNDING
The research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
BACKGROUND
The UCLA research was initiated as part of the Human Microbiome Project. Launched by the National Institutes of Health in 2007, the project aims to identify and better understand the microorganisms living in and on our bodies that maintain human health and lead to disease.
JOURNAL
The findings were published in the June 24 edition of Science Translational Medicine.
