Check out these studies about zinc.

[RAKBS]

Taken from http://www.snac.com/res_zma_1.htm

13. A percentage of testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5a-reductase. An invitro study was conducted to determine the inhibition of 5a-reductase activity by zinc sulphate and azelaic acid. When added at concentrations of 3 or 9 mmol/l, zinc was a potent inhibitor of 5a-reductase activity. At a high concentration of 15 mmol/l, zinc completely inhibited 5a-reductase. The addition of vitamin B-6 potentiated the effect of zinc and resulted in a two-fold increase in the inhibition of 5a-reductase. A moderate concentration of 1.5 mmol/l of zinc in combination with 0.025% of vitamin B-6 inhibited the 5a-reductase activity by 90%. The zinc and vitamin B-6 combination may be effective at limiting DHT production and could represent a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of androgen related pathology.

Stamatiadis D, et al. Inhibition of 5a-reductase activity in human skin by zinc and azelaic acid. Brit J of Derm, 1988, Vol. 119, pp. 627-632.



I also found this one to be interesting:



14. Androgen metabolism and aromatization, androgen and estrogen receptor binding and circulating levels of reproductive hormones were studied in zinc deficient rats. The zinc deficient group had significantly lower serum concentrations of testosterone (2.8 +/- .07 nmol/L) compared to the controls (8.7 +/- .07 nmol/L). This represents a remarkable 68% reduction in circulating testosterone levels. Scatchard analysis of the receptor binding data showed a significantly higher number of estrogen receptors in the zinc deficient group (36.6 +/- 3.4 fmol/mg protein) than in controls (23.3 +/- 2.4 fmol/mg protein) and a significantly lower number of androgen binding sites in rats fed the zinc deficient diet (6.7 +/- o.7 fmol/mg protein) than in controls (11.3 +/- 1.2 fmol/mg protein). To summarize, zinc deficiency caused a 41% reduction in the number of androgen binding sites and a 57% increase in the number of estrogen receptors. These findings indicate that zinc deficiency significantly reduces circulating testosterone concentrations and modifies sex hormone receptor levels.

Om AS, et al. Dietary zinc deficiency alters 5 alpha-reduction and aromatization of testosterone and androgen and estrogen receptors. J Nutr, 1996, Apr, 126:4,842-8.

 

[blaze]

To summarize, zinc deficiency caused a 41% reduction in the number of androgen binding sites and a 57% increase in the number of estrogen receptors. These findings indicate that zinc deficiency significantly reduces circulating testosterone concentrations and modifies sex hormone receptor levels.

Zinc has long thought to be beneficial for hairloss. This makes it sond like a zinc deficiency is good for Androgenetic Alopecia.

 

[RAKBS]

Yeah, that's why I found it interesting. Now that I've read that thread of collegechemistrystudent's, it seems as though a zinc deficiency might benefit mbp in certain ways, but zinc deficiency also causes hair loss through other mechanisms.

As for the first study, if zinc had that good of an effect inside the human body, that would mean it's just as good as Propecia, right? That's probably not the case, but I think I'm going to look for topical zinc that could hopefully synergistically work with oral zinc.

 

[RaginDemon]

maybe I should get my blood work done to see if I have zinc deficiency.

 

[GhostInTheShell]

These sound quite promising.


Maybe I misread..or am taking this too literally...but do You need a zinz deficiency? What about taking regular Zinc supplements with a B6 supplement? i plan to after reading this.

 

[CCS]

I think your goal should be to do this topically, not injest it. Also since zinc shampoo seems to worsen hair loss, not improve it, I question those results.

 

[blaze]

CCS I dont think it is fair to say zinc worsens hairloss at all.

Here is a study -

HEAD AND SHOULDERS FOR HAIR LOSS?

     The following study indicates that Zinc Pyrithione shampoo (Head and Shoulders) may actually somewhat help with pattern hair loss. I use the Wal-Mart “Equateâ€￾ brand for about $1.50 and alternate it with 2% Nizoral and Dr. Proctor’s Hair Regrowth Shampoo (available at male pattern baldness Research Buyer’s Club).
1: Br J Dermatol. 2003 Aug;149(2):354-62.
The effects of minoxidil, 1% pyrithione zinc and a combination of both on hair density: a randomized controlled trial.
Berger RS, Fu JL, Smiles KA, Turner CB, Schnell BM, Werchowski KM, Lammers KM.
Hill Top Research, Inc., East Brunswick, NJ, USA.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies of antidandruff shampoos or tonics containing antifungal or antibacterial agents produced effects suggestive of a potential hair growth benefit. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this 6-month, 200-patient, randomized, investigator-blinded, parallel-group clinical study was to assess the hair growth benefits of a 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo. The efficacy of a 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo (used daily), was compared with that of a 5% minoxidil topical solution (applied twice daily), a placebo shampoo and a combination of the 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo and the 5% minoxidil topical solution. METHODS: Two hundred healthy men between the ages of 18 and 49 years (inclusive) exhibiting Hamilton-Norwood type III vertex or type IV baldness were enrolled. Total hair counts, the primary efficacy measure, were obtained using fibre-optic microscopy and a computer-assisted, manual hair count method. Secondary measures of efficacy included assessments of hair diameter, as well as patient and investigator global assessments of improvement in hair growth. These were based on photographs of the scalp using both midline and vertex views. RESULTS: Hair count results showed a significant (P < 0.05) net increase in total visible hair counts for the 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo, the 5% minoxidil topical solution, and the combination treatment groups relative to the placebo shampoo after 9 weeks of treatment. The relative increase in hair count for the 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo was slightly less than half that for the minoxidil topical solution and was essentially maintained throughout the 26-week treatment period. No advantage was seen in using both the 5% minoxidil topical solution and the 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo. A small increase in hair diameter was observed for the minoxidil-containing treatment groups at week 17. Assessments of global improvements by the patients and investigator generally showed the benefit of 5% minoxidil. The benefit of the 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo used alone tended (P < 0.1) to be apparent only to the investigator. CONCLUSIONS: Hair count results show a modest and sustained improvement in hair growth with daily use of a 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo over a 26-week treatment period.

 

[CCS]

alright, I guess I'll use my equate as a pre-wash. Just twice a week though.

 

[tino]

To summarize, zinc deficiency caused a 41% reduction in the number of androgen binding sites and a 57% increase in the number of estrogen receptors. These findings indicate that zinc deficiency significantly reduces circulating testosterone concentrations and modifies sex hormone receptor levels.

Zinc has long thought to be beneficial for hairloss. This makes it sond like a zinc deficiency is good for Androgenetic Alopecia.

zinc deficiency is very bad in the line of male pattern baldness,and in general.Zinc is a caspase 3 inhibitor,and a deficiency would make the already dht induced caspase3 much more overexpressed.You can assume that a male pattern baldness affected scalp,needs already more zinc than a non male pattern baldness affected.The degree of a zinc deficiency,or supplementation on androgenic events,receptors,serum androgenes etc,is insignificant.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entre ... d_RVDocSum