Increase in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in the Frontal Scalp May Be Associated With Androgenetic Alopecia and Metabolic Syndrome

The study, involving 67 participants, found a potential link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) based on the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the scalp. The 34 participants with both AGA and MetS had higher body mass index, blood pressure, waist circumference, and prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus than the 33 participants with AGA but without MetS. They also had higher rates of grade 6 alopecia. Notably, those with MetS had thicker subcutaneous adipose tissue in the frontal scalp. The findings suggest that the co-occurrence of AGA and MetS may be associated with an increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue and less favorable metabolic parameters.