Association Between Trichoscopic Features, Serum Hormone Levels, and Vitamin D Concentration in Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia in Eastern China: A Cross-Sectional Study

The cross-sectional study involved 310 patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and explored the relationship between serum hormones, vitamin D, and AGA severity. The study found a significant negative correlation between serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and the severity of female pattern hair loss. However, no significant correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D, testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and hair density or vellus hair ratio in all AGA patients. The study also found a minimal correlation between serum sex hormone levels and vitamin D in AGA patients, suggesting that free, unbound sex hormones may play a crucial role in female pattern hair loss. The study concluded that serum vitamin D may not be involved in the pathological development of AGA. The study also revealed a high prevalence of early-onset AGA, with most patients being under 30 years old and a common vitamin D deficiency among these patients. The study calls for further research to explore the underlying mechanisms of these observed correlations and to develop targeted treatments.