Androgenic Alopecia Is Associated With Less Dietary Soy, Higher Blood Vanadium, and rs1160312 Polymorphism in Taiwanese Communities

The 2013 study examined the relationship between androgenic alopecia (AGA) and factors such as diet, heavy metal levels, and genetics in 354 Taiwanese men, including 60 with moderate to severe AGA. It found that AGA was positively associated with higher blood vanadium levels and the AA genotype of the rs1160312 polymorphism, and inversely associated with the consumption of soy bean drinks. The study also noted that environmental and behavioral factors, including sleep deficiency and scalp abnormalities, were linked to AGA. The prevalence of moderate to severe AGA in the study population was 17%. The findings suggested that both genetic and environmental factors, including dietary soy intake, might influence the risk of developing AGA. The study concluded that higher blood vanadium levels and less frequent soy bean drink consumption are associated with an increased risk of AGA, accounting for 59% of the explained variance in the condition. Further research was recommended to explore the mechanisms behind these associations.