title: Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) has been shown to block the action of 5-alpha reductase and to have antiandrogenic effects on rats. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of PSO for treatment of hair growth in male patients with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia (AGA). 76 male patients with AGA received 400 mg of PSO per day or a placebo for 24 weeks. Change over time in scalp hair growth was evaluated by four outcomes: assessment of standardized clinical photographs by a blinded investigator; patient self-assessment scores; scalp hair thickness; and scalp hair counts. Reports of adverse events were collected throughout the study. After 24 weeks of treatment, self-rated improvement score and self-rated satisfaction scores in the PSO-treated group were higher than in the placebo group (P = 0.013, 0.003). The PSO-treated group had more hair after treatment than at baseline, compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). Mean hair count increases of 40% were observed in PSO-treated men at 24 weeks, whereas increases of 10% were observed in placebo-treated men (P < 0.001). Adverse effects were not different in the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 770-626, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hye
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2176-6227
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 770-626, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea ; Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yeoup
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3585-9910
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 770-626, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 770-626, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Gyu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Hyeon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Centum Family Clinic, Busan 612-020, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cha