Vertex Balding, Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3

    June 2000 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Elizabeth A. Platz, Michael Pollak, Walter C. Willett, Edward Giovannucci
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    Studysummary This study found that older men with vertex balding had lower levels of IGFBP-3 and higher levels of IGF-1 in their plasma.
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    The study, involving 431 men aged 47 to 81, found that those with vertex balding at age 45 had higher levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and lower levels of its binding protein (IGFBP-3). A 1 standard deviation increase in IGF-1 levels was associated with a 1.31 odds ratio for vertex balding, while a similar increase in IGFBP-3 levels was associated with a 0.62 odds ratio for balding. The findings suggest a potential role of the IGF-1 axis in male pattern hair loss, despite limitations such as the long time lapse since hair loss began and potential misclassification due to self-assessment. The study supports the idea that IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may be important in the development of male pattern baldness.
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