Predictors of Scalp Hair Thinning in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

January 2016 in “ US Endocrinology ”

Deborah E. Ikhena, Joanne Williams, Nighat Naqvi, Lubna Pal

TLDR Scalp hair thinning in women with PCOS is linked to metabolic issues like abnormal glucose tolerance, high LDL, and skipped meals.

The study investigated scalp hair thinning (SHT) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and identified several predictors. Among the 263 women studied, 27% reported SHT. Factors significantly associated with increased likelihood of SHT included advancing age, subjective hirsutism, disturbed sleep, and smoking. Notably, serum androgen levels were not related to SHT. After adjusting for various factors, an abnormal two-hour oral glucose tolerance test, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and skipped meals were found to be independent predictors of SHT. The study concluded that SHT in women with PCOS was a phenotypic reflection of the metabolic burden associated with the condition.

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