Male pattern baldness and the risk of prostate cancer
August 2011
in “Annals of Oncology”
TLDR Men who experienced baldness at age 20 may have double the risk of getting prostate cancer.
The study involving 669 men, of whom 388 had prostate cancer and 281 did not, found that those with prostate cancer were twice as likely to have experienced male pattern baldness at age 20, with an odds ratio of 2.01 (P=0.0285). However, the specific pattern of hair loss did not predict the development of prostate cancer, nor was there a link between early-onset baldness and an earlier diagnosis or more aggressive prostate cancer. The research suggests an association between early-onset androgenic alopecia and prostate cancer risk, but further investigation is needed to determine if this group would benefit from regular prostate cancer screening or preventive treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The study did not account for all prostate cancer risk factors but did have a comparable family history of prostate cancer among participants. The authors call for more research to understand the association and report no conflicts of interest.
View this study on annalsofoncology.org →
Cited in this study
research Male pattern baldness and prostate cancer risk in a population-based case–control study
Men who start losing hair at age 30 may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.
research Baldness, benign prostate hyperplasia, prostate cancer and androgen levels
The study found no link between baldness patterns and androgen levels in men with benign prostate enlargement or prostate cancer.
research Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
Men can report their own balding patterns well enough for large health studies.
research The genetics of androgenetic alopecia
Genes and hormones cause hair loss, with four genes contributing equally.
research The psychosocial consequences of androgenetic alopecia: a review of the research literature
Hair loss affects self-esteem and quality of life; treatments can help.
research Fortnightly review: Male pattern androgenetic alopecia
Hair loss in men is common, treatable, but not curable.
Related
research Ethnopharmacological Review of Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Alopecia
Various medicinal plants like Polygonum multiflorum, Red ginseng extract, and Zizyphus jujuba can potentially treat hair loss, offering benefits like low cost and multiple ways of working. Other effective natural substances include Pygeum africanum, Seneroa, Urtica dioica, and more.
research Pharmacological therapeutics in androgenetic alopecia
research Finasteride in The Treatment of Female Androgenic Alopecia
Finasteride may help postmenopausal women with hair loss but is not effective for all and should be used cautiously in premenopausal women.
research FINASTERIDE AS A TREATMENT FOR MALE ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA
research Male pattern baldness and the risk of prostate cancer
Men who experienced baldness at age 20 may have double the risk of getting prostate cancer.
research Advances in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: a brief review of finasteride studies.
Finasteride is effective in growing hair and stopping hair loss in men with mild to moderate alopecia.