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More fun to blame my parents. 
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gettinripped
Guest
true but def worth reading.
gettinripped said:
Since I was 12 I've been taking 2+ times the RDA/DV of iron, and my hairs receding! I'll be interested just how much I need to take! (I also heard in high doses it can cause problems when taking Vit C at higher doses).
gettinripped said:
Wow that's pretty interesting.
It is interesting to see all what factors lead to or promote hair loss, especially readily modifyable ones like nutrition.
We also know of the significant role of 5-alpha-reductase in baldness by conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Nutrition -- macronurtient changes in 5-alpha-reductase similar as those induced by drugs, or environmental chemicals:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Dec;80(24):7646-9.
Nutrition-endocrine interactions: induction of reciprocal changes in the delta
4-5 alpha-reduction of testosterone and the cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation
of estradiol by dietary macronutrients in man.
Kappas A, Anderson KE, Conney AH, Pantuck EJ, Fishman J, Bradlow HL.
The drug Finasteride is famous for 5-alpha-reductase inhibition, though some natural ones are polyphenols, e.g. found in green tea:
Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Mar 15;63(6):1165-76.
Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of human 5alpha-reductases by polyphenols.
Hiipakka RA, Zhang HZ, Dai W, Dai Q, Liao S.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Sep 25;214(3):833-8.
Selective inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase isozymes by tea epicatechin-3-gallate
and epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
Liao S, Hiipakka RA.
Proanthocyanidins (form of polyphenols) e.g. in grape seeds promote and significantly act "as agents inducing hair growth" in animal research out of 1000 kinds of researched plant extracts:
Acta Derm Venereol. 1998 Nov;78(6):428-32.
Proanthocyanidins from grape seeds promote proliferation of
mouse hair follicle cells in vitro and convert hair cycle in
vivo.
Takahashi T, Kamiya T, Yokoo Y.
Biological actions of oligomeric procyanidins: proliferation of epithelial cells and hair follicle growth.
Methods Enzymol. 2001;335:361-8.
Takahashi T.
Essential fatty acids: PUFAs inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, where gamma-linolenic acid (n-6 PUFA) was the "most potent inhibitor" tested out of a range of differing fatty acids (followed by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a n-3 PUFA and octatetraenoic acid is also n-3, which a source for omega-3 FAs would be flax oil, and among other FA which were tested):
Biochem J. 1992 Jul 15;285 ( Pt 2):557-62.
Inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase by specific aliphatic unsaturated fatty acids.
Liang T, Liao S.
The effective action of Permixon (a lipido-sterolic extract of the plant Serenoa Repens a.k.a. saw palmetto) which mainly comprises of about 90% free fatty acids (of those, 80% are EFAs) which has been used e.g. for treatment of begnin prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) and has been suggested and used for hair loss treatments, according to the following study gets its activity of dual 5-alpha reductase type 1 and type 2 inhbition from its high free fatty acid content:
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Oct;82(2-3):233-9.
Inhibition of type 1 and type 2 5alpha-reductase activity by free fatty acids, active
ingredients of Permixon.
Raynaud JP, Cousse H, Martin PM.
Permixon has shown to be effective against androgenetic alopecia:
J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness
of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic
alopecia.
Prager N, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G.
Hair loss can also be the manifestation of an EFA deficiency, when there is one:
Arch Dermatol. 1977 Jul;113(7):939-41.
Human essential fatty acid deficiency: treatment by topical application of linoleic acid.
Skolnik P, Eaglstein WH, Ziboh VA.
J Lipid Res. 1997 Apr;38(4):805-12.
Pure linoleate deficiency in the rat: influence
on growth, accumulation of n-6 polyunsaturates,
and [1-14C]linoleate oxidation.
Cunnane SC, Anderson MJ.
Vitamin A and hair (it acts through nuclear receptors which instigate hair formation, as thus, inactivation of the receptors in mice results in "developed hair follicle degeneration, then alopecia"):
Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2002 May;129(5 Pt 2):793-9.
[Genetic dissection of retinoic acid function in epidermis physiology].
[Article in French].
Ghyselinck NB, Chapellier B, Calleja C, Kumar Indra A, Li M, Messaddeq N,
Mark M, Metzger D, Chambon P.
Glutathione (e.g. as an antioxidant preventing DNA damage in hair follicles against mutagens):
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2002;40(3):168-74.
Alterations of plasma antioxidants and mitochondrial DNA mutation in hair follicles of smokers.
Liu CS, Chen HW, Lii CK, Tsai CS, Kuo CL, Wei YH.
J Invest Dermatol. 1996 Aug;107(2):154-8.
Glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and reactive oxygen species of human scalp sebaceous glands in male pattern baldness.
Giralt M, Cervello I, Nogues MR, Puerto AM, Ortin F, Argany N, Mallol J.
Examples of some negative ones:
In prolonged ethanol (chronic) consumption, 5-alpha-reductase activity increases by about 200 to 500% (that likely contributes to baldness):
Science. 1976 Feb 13;191(4227):563-4.
Prolonged ethanol consumption increases testosterone metabolism in the liver.
Rubin E, Lieber CS, Altman K, Gordon GG, Southren AL.
Smoking promotes baldness:
Dermatology. 2003;206(3):189-91.
Association between smoking and hair loss: another opportunity for health education
against smoking?
Trueb RM.
Toxicol Lett. 2000 Apr 3;114(1-3):117-23.
Induction of alopecia in mice exposed to cigarette smoke.
D'Agostini F, Balansky R, Pesce C, Fiallo P, Lubet RA, Kelloff GJ, De Flora S.
BMJ. 1996 Dec 21-28;313(7072):1616.
Premature grey hair and hair loss among smokers: a new opportunity for
health education?
Mosley JG, Gibbs AC.
Hair loss and drugs:
E.g. lithium (used as a psychotropic drug) has shown hair thinning in 15% of patients:
Therapie. 1995 Mar-Apr;50(2):145-50.
[Drug-induced alopecia: review of the literature].
[Article in French].
Llau ME, Viraben R, Montastruc JL.
Drug Saf. 1994 Apr;10(4):310-7.
Drug-induced hair loss and hair growth. Incidence, management and avoidance.
Tosi A, Misciali C, Piraccini BM, Peluso AM, Bardazzi F.
Antimalarials, beta-receptor blocking agents (e.g. propranolol, metoprolol), sex hormones, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists and anticoagulants causing alopecia:
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1999 May 8;143(19):990-4.
[Drug induced alopecia].
[Article in Dutch].
van den Bemt PM, Brodie-Meijer CC, Krijnen RM, Nieboer C.
Cancer treatments and hair loss:
Chemotherapy:
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, of which the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and vitamin D protect from:
Lipids. 1999;34 Suppl:S105.
Protection from chemotherapy-induced alopecia by docosahexaenoic acid.
Takahata K, Tada M, Yazawa K, Tamaki T.
Cancer Res. 1992 Sep 15;52(18):5123-5.
Protection from chemotherapy-induced alopecia by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Jimenez JJ, Yunis AA.
Radiotherapy:
Radiation therapy also causes alopecia. Prostaglandin E2 substance and protection from radiation-induced hair loss:
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1992;23(2):333-7.
Subcutaneous or topical administration of 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 protects
from radiation-induced alopecia in mice.
Hanson WR, Pelka AE, Nelson AK, Malkinson FD.
Anyways, as far as nutrition is concerned, it is at least mentionable of others, like zinc, B vitamins, biotin (vitamin H), inositol, vitamin C, amino acids (l-cysteine; l-methionine), etc that play their role in hair loss prevention. There are also herbs and plants e.g.: Torilis japonica (erect hedge parsley); Thujae occidentalis extract; etc. and other substances, e.g. minoxodil (aka rogaine), dutasteride (aka avodart), etc. which are being investigated or already being used for the purpose of preventing hair loss or possess relevant interest. There are also varying types of classified hair loss: androgenetic alopecia is the most common known cause of hair-loss and is the genetic male-pattern but also to a lesser extent occurring female-pattern balding we see; telogen effluvium (mostly temporary hair loss as opposed to androgenetic alopecia which is considered permanent) where the hair sheds and which can be induced by stress and poor nutrition and usually affecting women between 30-60 years of age, alopecia areata which is a patchy balding thought to be due to an auto-immune disease (where the body's immune system attacks hair follicles); anagen effluvium which is significantly more severe than telogen effluvium even possibly causing complete hair loss, and although it regrows the hair may grow back permanently altered (e.g. color change, curly hair goes straight or vice versa) this hair-loss is known to be caused by the administration of some drugs like those used in chemotherapy but also resulting from radiotherapy; but then there is also: psychogenic pseudo effluvium which "affects fashion-oriented, self-conscious women suffering of a discrepancy between the actual state of their hair and idealized expectations." ([Diffuse hair loss in women].[German]. Ther Umsch. 2002 May;59(5):217-22. Trueb RM).
There's a European (originally Japanese) patent that mentions a formulation made from citrus fruits to regrow hair, wonder whatever happened to this idea...:
"Use of d-limonenes as testosterone-5-alpha-reductase inhibitor and as hair grower", EP467660 (1992):
...
The formulation:
Extract from navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck (Rutaceae)] skin === 19.75% by weight
Extract from iyokain [citrus iyo Hort. et Tanaka (Rutaceae)] skin === 14.82%
Extract from hassasku [Citrus hassaku Hort. et Tanaka (Rutaceae)] skin === 19.75%
Extract from sweet summer orange [Citrus Natsudaidai var. (Rutaceae)] skin === 14.82%
Extract from lemon skin === 14.82%
Extract from mandarin orange skin === 14.81%
Extract from aloe === 1.23%
----
pH:4.0-6.0.
....
"As the symptoms identified by the loss of hair in the pilose regions of the body, especially the head, many sorts are known, such as androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and alopecia seborrhecia. In this example, however, the hair grower containing as a major component d-limonene, which is the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor according to the present invention, was applied to the scalp of dozens of persons irrespective of the sort of alopecia. The results are shown in the following tables."
....
Hair growth effect:
58 men: excellant: 5 (8.6%); effective: 32 (55.2%); ineffective: 21 (36.2%).
22 women: excellant: 10 (45.5%); effective: 5 (22.7%); ineffective: 7 (31.8%).
80 people total: excellant: 15 (18.8%); effective: 37 (46.3%); ineffective: 28 (35.0%).
Excellant (or shortened form their "excellently effective"): Meant that hair grew in hairless areas following application.
Effective: New hair grew in the area larger than two third of hairless areas following application.
Ineffective (or "not effective"): no improvement after application.
The researchers also subjected the d-limonene material to direct 5alpha-reductase inhibiting tests, and found it worked quite strongly.
"Use of d-limonenes as testosterone-5-alpha-reductase inhibitor and as hair grower", EP467660 (1992):
...
The formulation:
Extract from navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck (Rutaceae)] skin === 19.75% by weight
Extract from iyokain [citrus iyo Hort. et Tanaka (Rutaceae)] skin === 14.82%
Extract from hassasku [Citrus hassaku Hort. et Tanaka (Rutaceae)] skin === 19.75%
Extract from sweet summer orange [Citrus Natsudaidai var. (Rutaceae)] skin === 14.82%
Extract from lemon skin === 14.82%
Extract from mandarin orange skin === 14.81%
Extract from aloe === 1.23%
----
pH:4.0-6.0.
....
"As the symptoms identified by the loss of hair in the pilose regions of the body, especially the head, many sorts are known, such as androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and alopecia seborrhecia. In this example, however, the hair grower containing as a major component d-limonene, which is the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor according to the present invention, was applied to the scalp of dozens of persons irrespective of the sort of alopecia. The results are shown in the following tables."
....
Hair growth effect:
58 men: excellant: 5 (8.6%); effective: 32 (55.2%); ineffective: 21 (36.2%).
22 women: excellant: 10 (45.5%); effective: 5 (22.7%); ineffective: 7 (31.8%).
80 people total: excellant: 15 (18.8%); effective: 37 (46.3%); ineffective: 28 (35.0%).
Excellant (or shortened form their "excellently effective"): Meant that hair grew in hairless areas following application.
Effective: New hair grew in the area larger than two third of hairless areas following application.
Ineffective (or "not effective"): no improvement after application.
The researchers also subjected the d-limonene material to direct 5alpha-reductase inhibiting tests, and found it worked quite strongly.
Hrm...strange. I know vitamin C deficiency can cause dry hair and promote or cause hair loss. US2002034484 ("Vitamin/metal salt compositions for reducing hair loss and/or promoting hair regrowth") uses a formulation in the form of lotion or capsules comprising vitamins including vitamin C and metal salts,etc. through which the antioxidant effect also works against greying of the hair and support hair growth.
Maybe there are other factors at play (hormone imbalance, stress, nutritional,etc). As far as my experience goes, I've been taking usually at least 2000-4000 mg vit C per day for the past one and a half year about, with no problems. Vitamin C also increases iron absorption (also reason higher dose is not recommended in "iron overloaders" - people with homozygous genes for hemochromatosis). The researchers of the same balding study above in the first post, although recommend iron (especially for common deficiency) also disrecommend excessive iron supplementation (most especially for genetic iron overloaders), noting also that this can cause iron overload (The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 May; 54(5):824-44. Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E.). Aside other more serious ones, hair loss is also a symptom of hemochromatosis.
Maybe there are other factors at play (hormone imbalance, stress, nutritional,etc). As far as my experience goes, I've been taking usually at least 2000-4000 mg vit C per day for the past one and a half year about, with no problems. Vitamin C also increases iron absorption (also reason higher dose is not recommended in "iron overloaders" - people with homozygous genes for hemochromatosis). The researchers of the same balding study above in the first post, although recommend iron (especially for common deficiency) also disrecommend excessive iron supplementation (most especially for genetic iron overloaders), noting also that this can cause iron overload (The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 May; 54(5):824-44. Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E.). Aside other more serious ones, hair loss is also a symptom of hemochromatosis.
solidspine
New member
I think the article is gone, something about male abuse in Scotland.
Mr. dB said:
Depends on the person too. I'd like to sport a shaved head, but some people like me just don't have the ears for it, though my bro certainly does.I look ridiculous with a shaved head.Shaved hair is also a representation of power (early ancestors who had cut hair would be a less vulnerable target like by hair grabbing in a fight).Though hair also represents vitality, reflecting upon disease states (nutritional deficiencies, for examples).
solidspine said:
I referenced the study above directly. But here is the article again:
So THIS Is What Causes Baldness?
If you don't get enough iron in your diet, it could cause your hair to fall out.
That's the stunning conclusion reached by doctors at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, who have determined that an iron deficiency may be a major cause of baldness, reports HealthDayNews.
Led by Dr. Wilma Bergfeld, the researchers reviewed scientific literature for the previous 40 years that focused on this link. The conclusion? Iron deficiency seems to be related to the most common types of hair loss. The association is so clear-cut that doctors at the Cleveland Clinic now routinely screen balding patients for an iron deficiency. If one is detected and treated in the early stages, they say many patients are able to grow hair more effectively.
Iron is actually the most common nutritional deficiency. HealthDay News reports that it can be caused by inadequate dietary intake of iron, excessive menstrual bleeding and other forms of blood loss. You can boost your iron level by eating more foods containing iron or by taking iron supplements if that's appropriate. Iron is found in abundance in clams, tofu, raisin bran, sirloin steak, shrimp, enriched pasta, dry roasted cashews, canned chickpeas, raisins and turkey breast.
Do note that high amounts of iron may be dangerous and could be associated with an increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers, as well as cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. The most common form of accidental poisoning among small children is taking too much iron-containing supplements.
The good news: "If doctors can understand fully the relationship between iron deficiency and hair loss, then they can help people regrow hair more effectively," Bergfeld said in a prepared statement. "We believe that iron deficiency may be related to many forms of hair loss and that people may need higher levels of iron stores than previously thought to regrow hair."
solidspine
New member
Fascinating
My brother is 45 and I am 56, same parents obviously,
He was born bald, got some hair and then was bald again by 22. I have a full head of hair, its not even gray.
We pretty much have the same diet.
I tell him it’s because he is so tall, (6’4”) and the oxygen can’t reach his hair follicles.
My brother is 45 and I am 56, same parents obviously,
He was born bald, got some hair and then was bald again by 22. I have a full head of hair, its not even gray.
We pretty much have the same diet.
I tell him it’s because he is so tall, (6’4”) and the oxygen can’t reach his hair follicles.
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