title: Associations among hair loss, oral sulfur-containing gases, and gastrointestinal and metabolic linked diseases in Japanese elderly men: pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male pattern baldness (MPB), an observable trait, has been reported to be associated with various diseases, such as prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. Oral sulfur-containing gases have also been suggested to be useful as markers of systemic health condition. However, there are no known reports regarding the associations among MPB, and oral sulfur-containing gases, and systemic health conditions in males.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 170 male subjects aged either 60 or 65 years old. The degree of MPB was assessed using the Norwood-Hamilton Baldness scale. Oral sulfur-containing gases were measured using a compact-designed device. All subjects completed physical and laboratory blood examinations, a face-to-face medical questionnaire, and an oral examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the levels of CH3SCH3 and baldness patterns, independent of age. When we analyzed whether the association was linked to systemic health condition, a strong significant association was observed between the level of CH3SCH3 and severe MPB in subjects with gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that MPB is associated with the level of CH3SCH3, a sulfur-containing gas that causes oral malodor, in elderly Japanese males. Further, the association was intensified by the existence of gastrointestinal tract and metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oral Health Science, Department of Health Promotion, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan. ansai@kyu-dent.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ansai
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awano
authors.forename: Inho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: Tadamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takehara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001944:Breath Tests; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D013440:Sulfides; D013455:Sulfur