MSM and Hair Loss for a Treatment
Article by HairlossTalk.com
March 5, 2004
Dr. Marty Sawaya reviews the supplement MSM, and its ability to treat hair loss, naturally...
I know the internet discussion forums on the various hair loss sites have so
much information from people who have taken things like: MSM, beta-sitosterol,
and of course my long time favorite is biotin, not to mention a half-dozen others
or more. I will try to review some of the frequently used herbal/nutritional supplements
such as: MSM (Methyl-sulfonyl-methane), beta-sitosterol, pygeum, nettles, green
tea, biotin and fish oil (Omega-3).
Overall, some of these things “may work for some people” and this
just happens to be so, where about 10-15% of folks will swear it really helped
their loss, and shedding, or helped to stabilize the hair loss. We don’t
know why it works for some, and not others, except that with the human scalp hair
cycle, there is a regrowth of the hair, then a cycle where the hair that grows
back is thinner, shorter and less pigmented. The hair cycle becomes shorter and
shorter with each successive cycle. The hair cycle is a very complex thing to
understand, and there is variation to some extent in everyone, but once you understand
the hair cycle, it is easier to understand hair loss and why the regrowth that
we see is just a part of the shortened hair cycle.
As for some of these herbal agents, let’s review some of them and try to
get a handle on them with regard to hair growth.
MSM for hair loss
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MSM |
Methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM): a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in
the body, as well as in various foods. Reviewing the website: www.msm.com, it
states that MSM is found in milk, coffee, tea, vegetables, etc. It is sold as
capsules, tablets, powders, as well as topical preparations. According to the
website, MSM is supposed to maintain structural proteins, form keratin proteins
which make up the hair fiber and help the immune system. MSM has also been stated
to help with pain, inflammation, increase blood flow, soften scar tissue and reduce
muscle spasms. Reviews on the website also mention studies using MSM to help those
with arthritis. From these reports, the users stated improvement to their nails
and hair. “Those taking MSM showed 50% increased nail length, thickness
and growth compared with placebo, and 100% of the subjects showed increased hair
growth compared with placebo. In addition, 30% of the subjects taking MSM showed
improvement in hair brilliance”.
Wow, those are pretty good numbers, but I wish I could see their standardized
photography, and how these parameters were assessed. I didn’t see any hair
counts, computerized systems for hair counting, biopsies, macro or microphotography.
It’s really tough to determine what they mean by “100% increased hair
growth”. So, until you see the full-published report done by the most rigorous
testing methods, it is best to be skeptical. The website describes physicians
who conducted the study, but to be honest, family practitioners don’t know
enough about dermatology and hair growth to conduct such a study. Many dermatologists
in general, are not comfortable with hair disorders and will even tell you so.
It’s probably best to get the few who know anything about hair to do these
studies.
The Absence of real Data
When a product is used for so many purposes, such as MSM, (used for inflammation,
arthritis, blood circulation, scar tissue, etc,) it is best to review any human
and animal studies that may have been done. It’s really tough to assess
hair brilliance, as this is so subjective, but at least they could have done hair
counts by macro photography, which is really the way to go these days, and it
wouldn’t cost that much. If they could test it in the appropriate “accepted
methods” which hair studies are done today, and they prove to be positive,
imagine how much money they could really make?
The website suggests doses of 1,000 mg taken by mouth, three times a day with
meals. It is stated that MSM is non-toxic at extremely high doses, but it is best
to review how this was assessed and what animal toxicity studies were done. I
wouldn’t suggest taking doses this high unless I really did some investigative
homework to know all toxicology that has been done in human and animal studies.
MSM may help, however...
From my past research experience, it is true that there are many enzymes in skin
that are important for adding sulfur and taking sulfur away from hormones and
proteins, such as the keratins. During my doctoral years of studying the male-hormone
enzymes that convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and other pathways,
there are sulfhydryl-oxidizing and reducing enzymes that make the hormones water
soluble to be transported in the blood. There are a lot of sulfhydryl bonds in
hair fiber, and keratin-proteins which make-up hair. The sulfur mediating enzymes
and their pathways are so complex and not totally known.
It is doubtful that taking them by mouth will have any effect at the intracellular
(inside the cell) level where they need to be to influence hair fiber growth.
Because of limited research funds, a lot of the “sulfur-mediating enzymes”
story is just incomplete. We don’t really know, but it sure sounds good,
and it could be possible, but it is best to have a company spend about $100,000
for some limited clinical trial testing, done by experienced physicians, in a
double-blind fashion for a 6 month to 1 year period of time to really test any
claims for hair growth.
Conclusion
There have been so many herbal supplements that have hit the marketplace, and
for some people taking them who have hair loss, they swear they are seeing improvements.
The problem is documentation. People want proof in the way of standardized photography
taken by experts with controlled lighting, film exposure and film quality. Taking
a snapshot, or quick digital photo just doesn’t cut the mustard.
For now, CAUTION is advised for any nutritional/herbal supplement you decide to
take to treat your hair loss. For many, like biotin, they may not hurt you, but
I doubt it will really help you.
Next issue will continue on herbal remedies and will discuss: Pygeum, Nettles,
Green Tea, and Omega-3 Fish Oils.
Marty Sawaya MD, PhD
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