Clinical Biochemistry of Dihydrotestosterone

February 2013 in “ Annals of Clinical Biochemistry ”

Paula M Marchetti, Julian H. Barth

TLDR Understanding how DHT works is important for diagnosing and treating hormone-related disorders.

The 2013 review "Clinical biochemistry of dihydrotestosterone" discussed the role and metabolism of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent androgen hormone. DHT is involved in sexual development, hair growth, and sebum production, and is linked to conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, 5-alpha-reductase deficiency, and polycystic ovary syndrome. The document highlighted that over 300 mutations in the androgen receptor can lead to androgen resistance, affecting the body's response to hormones like DHT. It also noted that males with 5α reductase type 2 deficiency have high testosterone levels but decreased DHT concentrations. The review also discussed the use of finasteride, a 5α reductase inhibitor, in improving hair growth and reducing scalp DHT. The document concluded that understanding the biochemistry of DHT is crucial for diagnosing and treating various endocrine disorders.

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