title: The effectiveness of the hair-restorer "Dabao" in males with alopecia androgenetica. A clinical experiment.
abstract: In a randomized, double-blind trial the effectiveness of 6 months' use of a Chinese herb extract (Dabao) as a hair-restorer was studied on 396 males with alopecia androgenetica. The effect was evaluated by nonvellus hair counts, participants' opinions and a panel's judgement of a photo-report. Twenty-three participants withdrew prematurely from the study. In both the Dabao and placebo groups an increase in the amount of hair was observed; 133 and 109 hairs on a 5 cm2 marked area, a difference of 24 hairs (p = 0.03, one-sided). Participants as well as the panel reached a similar conclusion. Regarding cosmetic effect, 42% of the participants in the Dabao group and 37% in the placebo group reported positive results. The average panel score for the cosmetic result on a scale of -10 to +10 was 0.46 in the Dabao and 0.21 in the placebo group, a difference of 0.24 (p = 0.04, one-sided). It appears from our study that, although the cosmetic effect over 6 months is modest, Dabao does have a certain effect on the growth of nonvellus hair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology/Health Care Research, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cardynaals
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Borger
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lambers
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Knipschild
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: C068148:Dabao; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal