The Alpha-Lipoic Acid Derivative Sodium Zinc Dihydrolipoylhistidinate Reduces Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in a Rat Model: A Pilot Study

April 2011 in “ Surgery today ”

Satoshi Hagiwara, Tomohisa Uchida, Hironori Koga, Masafumi Ito, Fumitaka Yoshizumi, Masatsugu Moriyama, Seigo Kitano, Takayuki Noguchi

α-lipoic acid sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate DHLHZn chemotherapy-induced alopecia cytosine arabinoside AraC hair follicles inflammatory cell infiltration alpha-lipoic acid chemotherapy-induced hair loss

Studysummary This study found that sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate reduced chemotherapy-induced hair loss in rats, suggesting its potential as a treatment for this side effect. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

In a pilot study from 2011 involving 40 Wistar rats, the α-lipoic acid derivative sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate (DHLHZn) was shown to significantly reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia. The rats were divided into four groups of 10, with one group acting as a control and the other three receiving cytosine arabinoside (AraC) to induce alopecia and different concentrations of DHLHZn (0%, 0.5%, or 1%) applied topically. The study found that rats treated with AraC and 0% DHLHZn experienced complete hair loss, while those treated with 0.5% or 1% DHLHZn had significantly less hair loss. Histological analysis indicated that DHLHZn treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in hair follicles caused by AraC. The study suggests that DHLHZn could be a potential therapeutic agent for chemotherapy-induced alopecia, but further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and understand its mechanisms of action.

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Research cited in this study

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research Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Rodent Models

27 citations , March 2008 in “Cell stress & chaperones”

This study found that localized administration of heat or certain stress protein inducers effectively prevented chemotherapy-induced hair loss in rodent models without affecting chemotherapy efficacy.

research Protection Against Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

97 citations , September 2006 in “Pharmaceutical Research”

This review discusses advances in protecting against chemotherapy-induced alopecia and reports no new clinical results; calcitriol and cyclosporine A emerged as promising agents in animal models with broader efficacy across multiple chemotherapy drugs.

research Reduction of Intrafollicular Apoptosis in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia by Topical Calcitriol Analogs

53 citations , October 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study found that cyclophosphamide induced significant keratinocyte apoptosis in anagen hair follicles of mice, while topical calcitriol-analogs reduced this apoptosis, suggesting a protective effect against chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

research A Randomized Trial of Minoxidil in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

127 citations , July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that in women undergoing chemotherapy after breast surgery, topical minoxidil significantly shortened the duration of hair loss compared to a placebo without significant side effects.