Blockade of Androgen Markers Using a Novel Betasitosterol, Thioctic Acid, and Carnitine-Containing Compound in Prostate and Hair Follicle Cell-Based Assays

The study from 2016 examined a new compound with betasitosterol, thioctic acid, and carnitine for its effectiveness against 5-alpha reductase (5AR) and inflammation, which are involved in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tested in vitro on prostate and hair follicle cells, the compound was found to more effectively down-regulate disease-characteristic mRNA expression profiles than finasteride, a standard 5AR inhibitor. The inhibition was also confirmed at the protein level. The findings suggest that a treatment strategy targeting both 5AR and inflammatory pathways could be more effective for AGA and BPH. However, the number of cell samples or participants was not mentioned in the summary.