A Cross-sectional Study of Plasma Trace Elements and Vitamins Content in Androgenetic Alopecia in Men.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional case-control observational study.
PubMed 33151470 · doi:10.1007/s12011-020-02468-2
What was done
The authors measured plasma trace elements (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Se, Fe) and vitamins (B12, D, E, folic acid) via direct colorimetric tests or atomic absorption spectrometry in 50 men with stage I–IV androgenetic alopecia (AGA) compared with 25 healthy controls. AGA patients were stratified into normal and high dihydrotestosterone (DHT) subgroups, and trichogram parameters in parietal and occipital scalp regions were assessed for correlations with biochemical markers.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, concentrations, or p-values. It states that all AGA patients exhibited deficiencies in Zn, Cu, Mg, Se, B12, E, D, and folic acid, though hair loss rate was not related to these levels. Occipital hair density correlated positively with Fe, and occipital hair diameter correlated positively with ferritin. Parietal hair diameter correlated inversely with plasma Cu, most prominently in patients with high DHT.
Why it matters
The study suggests that multiple micronutrient deficiencies frequently co-occur in men with androgenetic alopecia, and that trace elements such as iron and copper may have distinct associations with hair shaft characteristics across androgen-dependent and independent scalp areas.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (50 cases, 25 controls) and a single-center cross-sectional design that cannot establish causality. The abstract does not provide numerical values, confidence intervals, or effect sizes, nor does it describe adjustments for dietary factors or confounders.
Cited by
- supports A cross-sectional study found that all male patients with androgenetic alopecia had deficiencies in zinc, copper, magnesium, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin D, and folic acid/folate.