5α-Reductase Activity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    March 2017 in “ Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ”
    Chuyan Wu, Ke Wei, Zhongli Jiang
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    TLDR Women with PCOS have higher 5α-reductase activity, which may be linked to insulin resistance.
    In the 2017 meta-analysis by Wu et al., it was found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had significantly higher 5α-reductase activity compared to controls, as evidenced by higher ratios of 5α-reduced tetrahydrocortisol to tetrahydrocortisol (5αTHF/THF) and androsterone to etiocholanolone (An/Et). The study included five articles with 356 cases and 236 controls. The standardized mean differences (SMD) for 5αTHF/THF and An/Et were 0.43 and 0.86, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was found between studies for An/Et. Subgroup analysis showed that the increased 5α-reductase activity was significantly associated with insulin resistance, measured by HOMA-IR, regardless of obesity. However, due to the small number of studies and potential publication bias, the results should be interpreted with caution and confirmed by future research. Increased 5α-reductase activity may be a key biochemical feature of PCOS, particularly in relation to insulin resistance.
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      in Research/Science  41 upvotes 3 weeks ago
      High sugar diets may worsen hair loss by increasing 5α-reductase activity and androgen levels, especially in women with PCOS. A low sugar diet might reduce scalp DHT levels, similar to finasteride, but genetics also significantly influence hair loss.
      FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      community FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      in Research  330 upvotes 9 months ago
      FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

      community NW5 at 19. How many grafts do I need?

      in Transplants  140 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 19-year-old with rapid hair loss since 16 is considering a hair transplant but refuses to take finasteride or any 5α-Reductase inhibitors. They are currently using minoxidil, tretinoin, and microneedling with a Derminator 2, and only want hair until age 27.

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