Effects of Metformin, an AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activator, on Hair Growth

In a study published in 2019, researchers investigated the effects of metformin, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, on hair growth by examining its impact on dermal papilla (DP) and outer root sheath (ORS) cells. The study found that metformin treatment increased the proliferation of these cells and Ki-67 expression, a marker for cell proliferation, in ex vivo hair follicle cultures. Additionally, metformin treatment resulted in increased AMPK phosphorylation, which led to decreased degradation and increased nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, a protein involved in hair growth regulation. The conclusion of the study was that metformin promotes hair growth through the AMPK/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro, suggesting that AMPK activators could potentially be used to treat alopecia. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential of this treatment.