Study: Essential fatty acids and antioxidants benefit women with female hair loss
Study: Essential fatty acids and antioxidants benefit women with female hair loss
Reference
Le Floc’H C, Cheniti A, Connétable S, Piccardi N, Vincenzi C, Tosti A. Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women. jcosmet dermatol. 2015; 14 (1): 76-82.
Design
randomized comparison study
participant
The participants included a total of 120 healthy Italian women between the ages of 18 and 65 with hair loss in stage I according to the Ludwig-Skala. The researchers ensured that women had no illness or pathology that could cause hair loss, and women who recently used a hair growth product were excluded. Women who were pregnant or breastfeeding were also excluded.
Intervention
eighty women (40 pre -menopausal and 40 postmenopausal) were accidentally allocated to the food supplement, and 40 women (20 pre -menopausal and 20 postmenopausal) served as a control group. The complementary intervention provided a daily dose of 460 mg fish oil (exact amounts of eicosapentaen acid [EPA] and Docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], 460 mg black currant oil, 5 mg vitamin E, 30 mg vitamin C and 1 mg lycopine.
The study took 6 months and the participants were instructed not to change their hair styling habits or their diet for the duration of the study. They were also unable to take any other products or supplements and received a neutral shampoo for use. Hair dye and permanent waves were not allowed during the duration of the study.
target parameter
The primary result of the result was the change in the hair density, as illustrated by global photos that were taken before the study and at the end of the study. The hair density was evaluated by an independent expert who used a 7-point scale.
The secondary endpoints included changes in the telogous (resting) hair content and the diameter distribution of the anagen (growth) hair. A secondary measure was also used by a self -assessment of the participants and trichometer index values that determine the hair density and thickness.
important knowledge
The photo evaluation showed that at the end of the study, 62 % of the group with nutritional supplements had an increased hair density, compared to 28.2 % of those in the control group ( p <0.001). The self -assessment showed that 88.6 % of women in the group with nutritional supplements observed an increased hair density compared to 51.3 % in the control group ( p <0.001). In the supplementary group, telogenhaar decreased significantly compared to the control group ( p <0.001), and anagen hair increased significantly in the supplementary group compared to the control group ( p <0.001). The trichometer index showed a significant increase in hair density and thickness in the supplementary group compared to the control group ( p <0.001). Participants with nutritional supplements also reported less hair loss and an improvement in the hair density ( p <0.05) after 3 months and 6 months ( p <0.001).
practice implications
Although the statistics vary, female hair loss (FPHL) is considered frequent because it affects between 40 % and 50 % of women over 50. 1.2 Although some women with FPHL have a higher risk of developing a metabolic syndrome and endocrine disorders such as polycyzic ovarian syndrome, 3 life -threatening. The bigger problems for these women are quality of life, self -esteem and intellectual/emotional health. This state is slowly progressing and typically appeals to conventional medical treatment.
In view of the high security profile of the nutrients used in this study, it makes clinically useful to use this information in creating a supplementary protocol for women with female hair loss.
The only medication approved for FPHL is minoxidil (rogaine), since it has been shown to convert telogen hair into anagen and thereby increase the number of hair. 4 The dosage is only 1 ml twice a day only on the affected area of the scalp and is left in for at least 4 hours. Two to four months are required before a clear effectiveness becomes visible. In addition, there can actually be an increased hair loss in the first months of treatment. 3 Due to all these factors, compliance can be a problem for some patients. The main side effect is contact dermatitis; However, since Minoxidil is absorbed through the skin, other side effects such as tendonal inflammation or a deterioration of angina pectoris or other heart problems can occur. One of the biggest problems with minoxidil is certainly that the underlying cause does not deal with it FPHL . The main mechanism of action is unclear; However, studies indicate that Minoxidil mainly influences the hair cycle.
One of the most interesting clinical aspects of this recently carried out study is that it indicates a possible underlying cause or a contribution to a contribution to FPHL: inflammation. Previous research with men have associated inflammation as a pathogenic factor with hair loss. 5 Other examinations have shown that oxidative stress can affect hair with increasing age. 6 From a nutritional point of view, we know that poor nutrition can potentially cause hair loss. Nutritional disorders were identified as associated with hair loss, including anorexia and iron deficiency. 8 also too little protein and too much vitamin A are factors. 9 A lack of zinc or essential fatty acids can also go hand in hand.
Numerous studies have shown that essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), have anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidative potential. From the perspective of the underlying causes, it makes sense that the combination of essential fatty acids and antioxidant nutrients could have a positive effect on hair health. One could question the low dose of antioxidants in the dietary supplement used in this study, which could indicate that the essential fatty acids delivered most of the therapeutic activity.
In this study it was strange that the subjective result of the hair density in the control group was so high (51.3 %). The researchers explain that this could be due to the neutral shampoo that all participants, including the controls used, had a possible or perceived (placebo) value. However, if one looks at the non-subjective measurements such as angering hair diameter and photographic comparison by an independent expert, it becomes clear that the results of the intervention group far exceed that of the control group. In fact, none of the objective measurements in the control group improved.
In view of the high security profile of the nutrients used in this study, it makes clinically useful to use this information when creating a supplementary protocol for women with FPHL. It takes much further research before we can declare these nutrients as definitive treatments; In view of the current lack of conventional treatment options and the low effectiveness of the available, these nutrients can be included in an integrative adjuvant treatment protocol for this disease.
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- Blumeyer A, Tosti A, Messenger A, et al.; European Dermatology Forum (EDF). Evidence -based (S3) guideline for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women and men. j dtsch dermatol ges . 2011; 9 Appendix 6: S1-57.
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- Hernández Ba. Is androgenetic alopecia a consequence of endocrine effects on the vascular system? medium hypotheses. 2004; 62 (3): 438-441.
- consolation LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E. The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its possible relationship to hair loss. j. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2006; 54 (5): 824-844.
- American Academy for Dermatology. Hair loss: Whoever gets and causes. Available around: https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e-/hair-loss/who-gets-causes . Accessed on March 27, 2015.
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