Soy Isoflavones Reduce Toll-like Receptor-2 Levels in Acne Vulgaris

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is one of the most common skin inflammatory diseases. The results studies proved that soy isoflavones have anti-androgenic and anti-inflammatory. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of soy isoflavone in AV lesions in women with AV. Method: Randomized pre- and post-test control design, with 40 women, randomized into 2 groups: placebo and treatment. This study has done for 12 weeks. Soy isoflavones regarded as independent variable. AV lesions regarded as dependent variable and TLR-2 as intervening variable. Results: The study found a reduction in total AV lesions after treatment, from 80.0 ± 5.27 to 78.8 ± 27.46 in the placebo group and from 83.8 ± 37.82 to 34.0 ± 24.82 in the treatment group, with a significant mean difference (p<0.05). TLR-2 level has increased from 4505.5 ± 3084.0 pg/ml to 6005.6 ± 3376.66 pg/ml in the placebo group and decreased from 4574.1 ± 2701.06 pg/ml to 1883.6 ± 2479.04 pg/ml in the treatment group with a significant mean difference (p<0.05). The relationship between delta total acne lesions and TLR2 do Spearman were significant (p: 0.008; r: 0.650). Conclusion: The treatment of 160 mg/day soy isoflavones for 12 weeks in women with suffered AV lesions has proved a significant reduction in total AV lesions cause of the reduction in TLR-2 levels.