Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Risk for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Meta-Analysis
October 2011
in “
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
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TLDR Certain gene variations are significantly linked to hair loss, especially in white people.
This document is a meta-analysis that examines the association between androgen receptor (AR) gene polymorphisms and the risk for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). AGA is a type of hair loss that is dependent on testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and a functional AR. The researchers analyzed eight studies and found that only the StuI polymorphism in the AR gene showed a significant association with AGA, particularly in the white population. The authors suggest that further studies are needed to better understand the complex genetic basis of AGA.