Hair Steroid Profiling Reveals Racial Differences in Male Pattern Baldness Between Korean and Caucasian Populations

November 2012 in “ The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology ”

Man Ho Choi, Sun-Ju Kim, Bark‐Lynn Lew, Woo Young Sim, Bong Chul Chung

male pattern baldness dihydrotestosterone testosterone androgen pregnenolone androgen metabolism MPB DHT T

TLDR Korean and Caucasian men with male pattern baldness have different hair steroid levels.

The study found significant racial differences in hair steroid levels between Korean and Caucasian men with male pattern baldness (MPB). Both groups had elevated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T) levels compared to controls, with Koreans showing higher overall androgen levels and Caucasians having higher pregnenolone levels. These results underscored the need to consider racial differences in androgen metabolism in MPB research and suggested the potential for personalized treatments. The findings were based on hair samples and funded by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

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