Efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplement containing amino acids, iron, selenium, and marine hydrolyzed collagen in subjects with hair loss (androgenetic alopecia, AGA or FAGA or telogen effluvium). A prospective, randomized, 3-month, controlled, assessor-blinded study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Prospective randomized assessor-blinded controlled trial
PubMed 37357646 · doi:10.1111/srt.13381
What was done
A prospective, 12-week, randomized, assessor-blinded controlled study evaluated an oral supplement containing fish-origin hydrolyzed collagen (300 mg), taurine, cysteine, methionine, iron, and selenium in 83 adults (mean age 41 ± 16 years; 26 men, 57 women). Participants had androgenetic alopecia (AGA/FAGA, n = 59) or chronic telogen effluvium (TE, n = 24). Group A (n = 48) received standard drug treatment plus the daily supplement, while Group B (n = 35) received standard drug treatment alone. The primary endpoint was clinical efficacy assessed via standardized photographs by a blinded investigator using a 7-point Global Assessment Score (GAS, ranging from -3 to +3) at weeks 6 and 12.
What was found
Seventy-six participants (91.6%) completed the study. At week 6, the mean GAS score was significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B (0.5 ± 0.2 vs. 0.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.05). At week 12, the supplement group maintained significantly higher GAS scores (1.67 ± 0.16 vs. 0.66 ± 0.20; p < 0.001). Additionally, 50% of subjects in Group A achieved a GAS score of ≥2 compared to 23% in Group B. The oral supplement was generally well tolerated.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that a multi-ingredient nutraceutical containing hydrolyzed marine collagen, specific sulfur-containing amino acids, and micronutrients may enhance visible hair growth outcomes when used as an adjuvant alongside conventional pharmacological treatments for hair loss.
Limits
The study had a short follow-up duration (12 weeks) and a modest sample size. The trial was assessor-blinded rather than double-blinded (no placebo tablet in the control arm), introducing potential performance bias. Quantitative trichoscopic measurements (such as hair density or shaft caliber) were not reported, and results pooled disparate hair loss etiologies (AGA/FAGA and chronic TE). Specific background drug treatments varied based on investigator discretion.
Cited by
- context Deficiencies in taurine or taurine supplementation are linked with hair loss and hair growth.
- supports An oral supplement containing hydrolyzed fish collagen, taurine, cysteine, methionine, iron, and selenium improves the clinical efficacy of anti-hair loss treatments in subjects with AGA, FAGA, or chronic telogen effluvium.