The Effect of Topical Minoxidil Treatment on Follicular Sulfotransferase Enzymatic Activity

The study, conducted by A Goren et al., involved 120 subjects and examined the effect of topical minoxidil treatment on the activity of sulfotransferase enzymes in hair follicles. Minoxidil is metabolized to its active form, minoxidil sulfate, by these enzymes, and the level of sulfotransferase expression varies between individuals, influencing their response to minoxidil treatment. The study found that the expression of the sulfotransferase enzymatic system remained stable throughout the course of minoxidil treatment. This was the first study to demonstrate the stability of a Phase II metabolizing enzyme, such as sulfotransferase, during minoxidil treatment.