The Role of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Hair Growth
September 2018
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
TLDR Polyunsaturated fatty acids, like arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, can promote hair growth and may help treat hair loss.
The study from 2018 investigated the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on hair growth. It was found that AA improved the viability of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), stimulated the expression of growth factors, and increased the phosphorylation of transcription factors and Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, AA promoted hair shaft elongation and keratinocyte proliferation in hair follicle organ culture. Both AA and EPA, when applied topically, accelerated the transition to the anagen (growth) phase in C57BL/6 mice, and their combination was found to prolong this phase. The study concluded that AA and EPA have a positive effect on hair growth and could be potential treatments for hair loss.
