Nutrition & Hair

The leading cause of male pattern baldness (which can also affect women) is believed to be the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (called DHT). Fortunately, there are promising studies which conclude that the natural plant extracts saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol decrease DHT levels.

Modern medications like minoxidil (Rogaine®) and finasteride (Propecia®) have been shown to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. But their reported side effects include fast heart rate, headaches, impotence, and decreased libido, as well as scalp irritation and unwanted facial hair in women.

As a natural alternative to these medications, in a study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in April 2002 (8:143–52), subjects with male pattern baldness were given either a placebo or a supplement containing 400 mg of a standardized extract of saw palmetto and 100 mg of beta-sitosterol per day. After about five months, hair growth in 60% of the men taking the herbal combination had improved.

In another study published in The Prostate in Mar 6 2007 (Wadsworth, Worstell, Greenberg, Roselli), mice were given one of two doses of Saw Palmetto extract, either 50 mg/kilogram/day or 300mg/kilogram/day for 3 or 6 months. At the conclusion of the trial, the mice who had received the equivalent of 300mg/kilogram/day had significantly reduced amounts of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in their prostate tissue. In addition, their prostate tumors had been reduced in size.

Based on the above data, it seems that especially saw palmetto indeed does decrease DHT levels, if used persistently over a period of approximately 6 months. These findings are encouraging for millions of men and women with hair loss. Women of childbearing age are nevertheless warned not to use saw palmetto without medical supervision.