Androgenic Alopecia and Insulin Resistance: Are They Really Related?

March 2009 in “ Clinical and Experimental Dermatology ”

L Nabaie, S Kavand, Reza M. Robati, Nima Sarrafi-rad, Leili Shahgholi, G Meshkat-Razavi

androgenic alopecia insulin resistance serum fasting insulin fasting blood glucose serum total cholesterol triglyceride high-density lipoprotein AGA insulin blood sugar cholesterol HDL

Studysummary This article discusses the potential relationship between androgenic alopecia and insulin resistance but presents no new clinical findings, calling for further research on the topic. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study, which included 97 men with androgenic alopecia (AGA) and 87 men without AGA, found no significant difference in serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein between the two groups. This suggests that there is no significant relationship between insulin resistance and AGA, contradicting previous suggestions of a link. With a total of 184 participants, the study calls for further research to conclusively explore the potential association between these conditions.

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research Association of Insulin Resistance Linked Diseases and Hair Loss in Elderly Men: Finnish Population-Based Study

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This study observed that Finnish men aged 63 with androgenetic alopecia had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes compared to those with normal hair status.

research What May Be the Markers of the Male Equivalent of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

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research Androgenetic Alopecia in Men Aged 40-69 Years: Prevalence and Risk Factors

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In this study, the researchers did not confirm previously reported links between AGA and smoking or benign prostatic hypertrophy, but found potential associations with alcohol consumption and lean body mass at age 21 that merit further investigation.

research Hair Loss, Insulin Resistance, and Heredity in Middle-Aged Women: A Population-Based Study

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In this study, female androgenic alopecia (grade II or III on Ludwig's scale) was found to be common among Finnish women aged 63, and several markers of insulin resistance, along with paternal history of alopecia, were associated with an increased risk.

research Hormone-Induced Aberrations in Electromagnetic Adhesion Signaling as a Developmental Factor of Androgenetic Alopecia

4 citations , April 2002 in “Medical Hypotheses”

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research Early Onset of Androgenetic Alopecia Associated With Early Severe Coronary Heart Disease: A Population-Based, Case-Control Study

56 citations , June 2001 in “European journal of cardiovascular prevention & rehabilitation”

This study found that men with early-onset androgenic alopecia have a higher risk of needing coronary revascularization before age 60 compared to those with later onset or no hair loss.

research Early Androgenetic Alopecia as a Marker of Insulin Resistance

115 citations , September 2000 in “The Lancet”

Early hair loss may indicate risk of insulin resistance.

research Vertex Balding, Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3

26 citations , June 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

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