TLDR Sulfated fucans promote hair growth in mice by speeding up the growth phase and delaying the rest phase.
The study investigated the effects of sulfated fucans on the hair growth cycle in mice. Five days after hair removal, hair follicles in both the sulfated fucans and minoxidil groups were in anagen IV, while the control group was in anagen III. VEGF and HGF were present in the treated groups but not in the control. Eighteen days post-depilation, hair follicles in the treated groups were mostly in anagen VI, whereas the control group was in catagen, with no VEGF or HGF detected in any group. The results suggested that sulfated fucans promoted hair growth by advancing the hair follicle to anagen IV and delaying the transition to catagen, potentially due to the effects of VEGF and HGF.
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May 1998 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Insulin or IGF-I is needed for hair growth in newborn mice, while minoxidil helps adult mouse hair grow, suggesting a way to study human hair loss.
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