Hair Regeneration : A Multi-Targeting Approach Using a Botanical-Vitamin-Mineral Compound in the Treatment of Hair Loss

Feldman, Peter Rodney (2023) Hair Regeneration : A Multi-Targeting Approach Using a Botanical-Vitamin-Mineral Compound in the Treatment of Hair Loss. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Background: Interventions intending to prevent hair loss and restore the scalp hair phenotype have had limited effect, thus an unmet medical need remains. Hair follicle (HF) homeostasis and hair fibre production result from a finely tuned choreography of more than 1,000 gene expressions and at least 20 principal signalling pathways known as stem cell activators, cytokines, hormones, prostaglandins, and growth factors.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a multi-targeting treatment for terminal hair regeneration in humans by aiming to modulate the primary signalling functions, including Wnt/b-catenin, DHT, 5α-Reductase, Prostaglandins, TNF-α, and TGF-β.

Materials and Methods: A botanical, vitamin and mineral (BVM) oral and topical treatment was administered to subjects with androgenetic alopecia in two randomised placebo-controlled trials and then compared to other therapies in a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis (MA). Primary outcomes were terminal hair (TH) density changes over 24 weeks.

Results: At 24 weeks, the MA regrowth efficacies compared to placebo in TH/cm2 and significance (*) in women were; BVM: 30.09*, Laser: 16.62*, Minoxidil 2%: 12.13*, Minoxidil 5%: 10.82*, and Nutrafol: 7.32*, and in men; BVM: 21.03*, Laser: 18.75*, Dutasteride: 18.37*, Viviscal: 13.23, Minoxidil 5%: 13.13*, Finasteride: 12.38, and Minoxidil 2%: 10.54. BVM regrowth rates were linear in men, accelerating in women. 99% of the BVM TH regrowth in women was derived from dormant HFs. In men, TH regrowth was 50/50 from inactive HFs / vellus-like hair. All other treatments found regrowth resistance after 12 weeks.

Findings: Consensus has formed that reactivating a dormant HF and maintaining hair growth requires upregulating the Wnt/b-catenin pathway. Most expert opinions proposed multitargeting or combination therapies to improve efficacy. The multi-targeting BVM treatment was found more effective than all other treatments. Additional studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms, optimise the BVM and confirm these findings.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	07 Dec 2023 08:57
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2023 08:57
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/93906
DOI:

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