Dual Wavelength LEDs Induce Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide That Inhibit the Production of Dihydrotestosterone by 5-Alpha Reductase

December 2024 in “ Journal of Biophotonics ”

Jacob Kocher, Nicole Jandick, Derry Spragion, P. Joseph DeSena, Thomas Matthew Womble, Katelyn Crizer, Nathan Stasko

dual wavelength LEDs reactive oxygen species nitric oxide dihydrotestosterone 5-α reductase low level light therapy androgenetic alopecia testosterone red light red-orange light LED light therapy LLLT DHT AGA NO ROS

TLDR Dual wavelength LEDs may help reduce hair loss by lowering DHT levels.

The study investigates the use of dual wavelength LEDs in low level light therapy (LLLT) as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which affects about 50% of adults. AGA is primarily caused by the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5-α reductase. The research demonstrates that red and red-orange light (620 and 660 nm) can induce the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in A549 and HEK293T cells, leading to a decrease in DHT synthesis. This suggests a potential mechanism for LLLT using LED-emitted light to inhibit DHT production and treat AGA. The authors conducted this research through their employment with KNOW Bio LLC and may have ownership interests in the company.

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