Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-DRY-08 standard review
Meta-analysis: milk linked to acne, yogurt and cheese not
Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.
Overview
Aghasi M et al.. Clin Nutr 2019 · PMID 29778512 · DOI 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015
Total milk OR 1.48.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Dairy and acne.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Observational studies.
- What was actually found?
Milk associated with acne.
- How large was the observed effect?
OR 1.48 (1.31-1.66).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Possible link.
- What are the study's limitations?
Observational.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports association.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Aghasi M et al.
- Journal
- Clin Nutr
- Year
- 2019
- Identifier
- PMID 29778512 DOI 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.04.015
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Milk/dairy and acne.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Meta-analysis of observational studies with dose-response.
- Population
Observational study participants
- Country
Multinational
- Period
Not stated in abstract
- Sample size
Not stated in abstract
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Observational studies reporting OR/RR/PR.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Dairy, milk types, yogurt, cheese
- Comparator
Lowest category
- Endpoints
Acne.
- Statistical methods
Random effects; dose-response.
5. Actual results
- Results
Dairy OR 2.61 (1.20-5.67); total milk 1.48 (1.31-1.66); low-fat milk 1.25 (1.10-1.43); skim 1.82 (1.34-2.47); no significant association for yogurt/cheese.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Positive relationship between dairy/milk and acne; no association for yogurt/cheese.
6. Strengths
- Dose-response
7. Weaknesses
- Observational, heterogeneous
- Sample sizes not in abstract
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Abstract-level judgement.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Wide CI for total dairy.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Supporting C-DRY-08; yogurt/cheese null result relevant to C-DRY-11.
11. Independent contrary findings
I-DRY-09 found cheese/yogurt associations.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Moderate.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Consistent milk-acne association.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
RCTs.
15. Linked fact checks
- Milk intake (especially skim milk) causes acne in teenagers. – Studies supporting the claim
- Fresh milk, yogurt (incl. laban rayeb, ayran, labneh) and white/cottage cheese are harmful and must be avoided, whereas aged cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella, romi), processed cheese triangles, cream (qeshta), butter and ghee are allowed. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim