Biochemical roles of testosterone and epitestosterone to 5 alpha-reductase as indicators of male-pattern baldness.
In establishing a theory to predict male-pattern baldness, we investigated the correlation of testosterone, epitestosterone, and dihydrotestosterone with 5alpha-reductase in hair using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. One hundred milligram hair samples were obtained from a group of balding subjects and their sons, as well as from a corresponding aged-matched, nonbalding group. The ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone was significantly greater (mean 46.41, p < 0.001; mean 35.83, p < 0.001, respectively) in the hair of balding fathers (n = 19, age 28-50 y) and their sons (n = 16, age 8-16 y) than in the hair of the nonbalding control subjects (mean 9.17 and 10.47, respectively). These findings demonstrate that analysis of terminal hair may not only provide a basis for predicting baldness when the subject is still young, but also for preventing and treating male-pattern baldness by controlling the steroid hormone balance.
Choi
M H
MH
Bioanalysis and Biotransformation Research Center, KIST, Seoul, Korea.
Yoo
Y S
YS
Chung
B C
BC
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002648:Child; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004845:Epitestosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D004845:Epitestosterone