Characterization of Follicular Minoxidil Sulfotransferase Activity in a Cohort of Pattern Hair Loss Patients from the Indian Subcontinent

October 2018 in “ Dermatologic Therapy ”

Jill Chitalia, Rachita Dhurat, Andy Goren, John D. McCoy, Maja Kovacevic, Mirna Šitum, Ty Naccarato, Torello Lotti

minoxidil sulfotransferase androgenetic alopecia pattern hair loss Rogaine

Studysummary In this study of Indian patients with pattern hair loss, 40.8% showed low sulfotransferase enzyme activity in hair follicles, with a higher prevalence of low activity in men compared to women. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

In 2018, a study of 120 pattern hair loss patients from the Indian subcontinent found that 40.8% had low levels of sulfotransferase activity, an enzyme that converts minoxidil, a common hair loss treatment, into its active form. Men had a higher percentage of low activity (49.3%) compared to women (26.6%). The study suggested that testing for sulfotransferase activity before starting therapy could help identify those who may not respond to minoxidil treatment and guide the prescription of the correct dosage for patients with androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of baldness.

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