TLDR Researchers developed a reliable way to measure hormones in urine, showing that a baldness treatment doesn't change hormone levels.
In 2019, researchers developed a reliable method for measuring androgens and prostaglandins in human urine using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). This method, which included solid-phase and liquid-liquid extraction, enzyme hydrolysis, and chemical derivatization, showed high recoveries (81.0 to 102.9%), low limits of quantification (0.01 to 2 ng/mL), and excellent linearity (correlation coefficient > 0.99). It was tested on urine samples from 10 male pattern baldness patients undergoing finasteride treatment and 10 healthy controls. The results indicated that finasteride did not significantly alter urinary levels of androgens and prostaglandins, suggesting its effectiveness in treating male pattern baldness. This method could be useful for studying androgens and prostaglandins in various inflammatory diseases.
10 citations,
November 2012 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Korean and Caucasian men with male pattern baldness have different hair steroid levels.
205 citations,
March 2012 in “Science Translational Medicine” PGD2 stops hair growth and is higher in bald men with AGA.
30 citations,
April 2011 in “Rapid communications in mass spectrometry/RCM. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry” Analyzing hair with this method can help understand and monitor scalp conditions and treatment effects.
25 citations,
April 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride lowers scalp and blood DHT levels, potentially treating male-pattern baldness.
103 citations,
April 2005 in “Experimental dermatology” Prostaglandin F2alpha and related compounds can increase hair growth and darken hair in mice.
47 citations,
January 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” High testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in hair could predict male-pattern baldness.
35 citations,
November 1989 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry/Journal of Steroid Biochemistry” Epitestosterone may act as a weak antiandrogen and can inhibit an enzyme involved in testosterone metabolism.
Researchers developed a quick and accurate method to measure hormones in urine, confirming a baldness treatment's effectiveness without altering hormone levels.
8 citations,
March 2020 in “Metabolites” Finasteride treatment changes urine metabolomics and steroid signatures, potentially monitoring effectiveness but may cause sexual side effects.
2 citations,
May 2021 in “Molecules” A new method was created to analyze certain chemicals in the urine of alopecia areata patients, revealing they have higher metanephrine content. This method can also be used for other related diseases.
7 citations,
September 2022 in “Communications biology” Omega-6 fats in certain cells boost male hormone production.
February 2024 in “ACS Omega” The Shen Bai Hair Growing Decoction may help treat hair loss by promoting hair growth and reducing inflammation.
