Reduced serum vitamin B12 levels during oral cyproterone-acetate and ethinyl-oestradiol therapy in women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia
July 1990
in “Clinical and experimental dermatology”
TLDR Taking cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol for hair loss can lower vitamin B12 levels in women.
In a study from 1990, healthy non-vegetarian women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia were treated with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol. After 6 months of treatment, there was a significant decrease in serum vitamin B12 levels, haemoglobin, and haematocrit values, while serum folic acid, red-cell folate, and mean cell volume remained unchanged. The patients responded positively to vitamin B12 supplementation. The study suggests that for patients with baseline serum vitamin B12 levels below 350 ng/l, prophylactic cyanocobalamin should be administered alongside the alopecia therapy. The paper also indicates that for treatments longer than 3 months, vitamin B12 status may need to be evaluated, especially with different dosages or when cyproterone acetate is used alone.
View this study on academic.oup.com →
Cited in this study
research Effective medical treatment for common baldness in women
Antiandrogen therapy helped increase hair growth in women with hormonal imbalances related to baldness.
research Alopecia and hirsutism*
The document says that hair loss in women is often due to androgenic alopecia, similar to male baldness, and that hirsutism is treated with hormonal and cosmetic methods.
research Effect of cyproterone acetate on hair growth, sebaceous secretion and endocrine parameters in a hirsute subject
research Use of cyproterone acetate (CPA) in the treatment of acne, hirsutism and virilism
Cyproterone acetate is effective for acne but less so for hirsutism and alopecia, with some side effects and quick menstrual cycle recovery after treatment.