Sulforaphane Promotes Murine Hair Growth by Accelerating the Degradation of Dihydrotestosterone

March 2016 in “ Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications ”

Mari Sasaki, Shohei Shinozaki, Kentaro Shimokado

sulforaphane dihydrotestosterone DHT androgenic alopecia 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 3α-HSDs testosterone hair regeneration SFN AGA

TLDR Sulforaphane may help with hair growth by breaking down a hormone that causes hair loss.

In a study from March 1, 2016, sulforaphane (SFN) was found to promote hair growth in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice by accelerating the degradation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair loss. Administered at 10 mg/kg body weight, SFN significantly increased hair regeneration and reduced plasma testosterone and DHT levels. It also upregulated mRNA and protein levels of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3α-HSDs), enzymes that degrade DHT, in the liver and cultured murine hepatocytes. These results suggest SFN's potential as a treatment for androgenic alopecia (AGA) by lowering DHT concentration and preventing its negative impact on hair growth. The number of mice used in the study was not specified.

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