I stumbled upon the following study a few days ago. It is very interesting. Here it is:
Flax Lignans: New Study Says It Is A Cure for Hair Loss
May, 10, 2005
For many men, loosing their hair is a frustrating but inevitable part of the aging process. But a pilot study carried out by Dutch ingredients company Acatris demonstrates that taking flax lignans could put an end to their plight.
Technical specialist Jocelyn Mathern explained to Young Again that androgenetic alopecia, the most common from of hair loss, is a hormonal as well as a genetic issue. It affects 50 percent of 50 year-old men.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent form of the male hormone testosterone, can get inside hair follicles and make them shrink so that they produce thinner hair and eventually none at all, she said. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), the main flax lignan, can help prevent this by inhibiting production of the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, called 5-alpha reductase.
The study took place at a health company in Taiwan over a six-month period. Ten male sufferers of androgenetic alopecia aged between 20- and 70- years received a 50mg daily dose of SDG in the form of one 250 mg capsule of Acatris’ LinumLife Extra.
The condition of their hair was documented at the beginning of the study by photographs and the men measured their hair loss throughout the period by counting the number of hairs on their pillows each morning.
Initial effects of the flax lignans were noticed on average one to two months into the study, says the company, and the end of the period, eight of the participants reported a modest improvement in their hair loss condition, one reported a great improvement and one reported no effect at all. The more severe the participant’s hair loss condition at the start of the trial, the more noticeable the improvement.
Half the subjects also noted decreased oil secretion in their scalp. No adverse effects were reported.
“This pilot study confirms earlier research on flax lignans with respect to their promise in the care of Androgenetic Alopecia and without the sometimes harmful effects of a prescription medication,†said Mathern.
“In addition to benefits for hormone related conditions, such as hair loss, lignans have long been reported to help improve prostate health, reduce menopausal symptoms, promote heart health and have benefits for breast health.â€
The pilot study’s results mean Acatris is going ahead with sponsoring a clinical trial at a research center in Maastricht, The Netherlands, this year.
In this case 100mg SDG will be used, which may give an indication of whether the lignan’s effects on hair loss are commensurate with dose.
As well as androgenetic alopecia, participants selected for this trial will have an inflamed prostate. The researchers will also measure the flax lignans’ effects on this health condition
At first, I was skeptical of this study. Isn't this just a marketing ploy? This company just wants to sell more of its product so it touts it as a cure for baldness by packaging it as a study. However, I did some internet research. I found the following recent study. Duke reseachers discovered that eating ground flaxseed daily can prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Fifteen men who supplemented with flaxseed for 6 months experienced a 31 % reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, a marker for BPH. Wendy Demark-Wahnefriend, Ph.D. the lead researcher, stated that flaxseed is the richest source of dietary lignans.
After reading the Duke University study, there may be something to flax lignans and hair health. The same hormonal mechanism is at work for BPH and male pattern baldness. The active ingredient in Propecia-finasteride- is the same ingredient in Proscar which is used to treat BPH. Thus, any substance which would work for BPH should also work for male pattern baldness. I am going to give flax lignans a try. I already ordered a bottle. I got a 2 month supply of Jarrow's Flax Essence for $12.71. This product contains the same percentage of lignans that were used in the study. I figure I don't have anything to lose. Plus, over the past couple of years I have heard a lot about the health benefits of flaxseed oil supplements. This product is just one type of flaxseed oil supplement. I am currently taking Propecia with pretty good results and I am hoping the addition of this flax lignan supplement will really boost my results.
What do you guys think.
Flax Lignans: New Study Says It Is A Cure for Hair Loss
May, 10, 2005
For many men, loosing their hair is a frustrating but inevitable part of the aging process. But a pilot study carried out by Dutch ingredients company Acatris demonstrates that taking flax lignans could put an end to their plight.
Technical specialist Jocelyn Mathern explained to Young Again that androgenetic alopecia, the most common from of hair loss, is a hormonal as well as a genetic issue. It affects 50 percent of 50 year-old men.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent form of the male hormone testosterone, can get inside hair follicles and make them shrink so that they produce thinner hair and eventually none at all, she said. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), the main flax lignan, can help prevent this by inhibiting production of the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, called 5-alpha reductase.
The study took place at a health company in Taiwan over a six-month period. Ten male sufferers of androgenetic alopecia aged between 20- and 70- years received a 50mg daily dose of SDG in the form of one 250 mg capsule of Acatris’ LinumLife Extra.
The condition of their hair was documented at the beginning of the study by photographs and the men measured their hair loss throughout the period by counting the number of hairs on their pillows each morning.
Initial effects of the flax lignans were noticed on average one to two months into the study, says the company, and the end of the period, eight of the participants reported a modest improvement in their hair loss condition, one reported a great improvement and one reported no effect at all. The more severe the participant’s hair loss condition at the start of the trial, the more noticeable the improvement.
Half the subjects also noted decreased oil secretion in their scalp. No adverse effects were reported.
“This pilot study confirms earlier research on flax lignans with respect to their promise in the care of Androgenetic Alopecia and without the sometimes harmful effects of a prescription medication,†said Mathern.
“In addition to benefits for hormone related conditions, such as hair loss, lignans have long been reported to help improve prostate health, reduce menopausal symptoms, promote heart health and have benefits for breast health.â€
The pilot study’s results mean Acatris is going ahead with sponsoring a clinical trial at a research center in Maastricht, The Netherlands, this year.
In this case 100mg SDG will be used, which may give an indication of whether the lignan’s effects on hair loss are commensurate with dose.
As well as androgenetic alopecia, participants selected for this trial will have an inflamed prostate. The researchers will also measure the flax lignans’ effects on this health condition
At first, I was skeptical of this study. Isn't this just a marketing ploy? This company just wants to sell more of its product so it touts it as a cure for baldness by packaging it as a study. However, I did some internet research. I found the following recent study. Duke reseachers discovered that eating ground flaxseed daily can prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Fifteen men who supplemented with flaxseed for 6 months experienced a 31 % reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, a marker for BPH. Wendy Demark-Wahnefriend, Ph.D. the lead researcher, stated that flaxseed is the richest source of dietary lignans.
After reading the Duke University study, there may be something to flax lignans and hair health. The same hormonal mechanism is at work for BPH and male pattern baldness. The active ingredient in Propecia-finasteride- is the same ingredient in Proscar which is used to treat BPH. Thus, any substance which would work for BPH should also work for male pattern baldness. I am going to give flax lignans a try. I already ordered a bottle. I got a 2 month supply of Jarrow's Flax Essence for $12.71. This product contains the same percentage of lignans that were used in the study. I figure I don't have anything to lose. Plus, over the past couple of years I have heard a lot about the health benefits of flaxseed oil supplements. This product is just one type of flaxseed oil supplement. I am currently taking Propecia with pretty good results and I am hoping the addition of this flax lignan supplement will really boost my results.
What do you guys think.
