title: Efficacy of a Complex of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine Peptide on Hair Growth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pattern hair loss is a very common problem. Although effective therapeutics for the treatment of pattern hair loss have been used, novel therapeutic modalities are still required to enhance hair growth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the efficacy and safety of a complex (ALAVAX) of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) peptide for the treatment of pattern hair loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with male pattern hair loss were treated with ALAVAX 100 mg/ml (group A), ALAVAX 50 mg/ml (group B) or placebo (group C) once a day for 6 months. Total hair count, hair length, hair thickness, patient's assessment and adverse events were evaluated at month 1, 3, and 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in hair count for 6 months was 52.6 (p<0.05) in group A, 71.5 (p<0.05) in group B, and 9.6 in group C. The ratio of changes in hair count between group B (2.38) and group C (1.21) at 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The proportion above good satisfaction was higher in group A (26.7%) than in the other groups (group B: 14.3%, group C: 7.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in hair length and hair thickness among 3 groups at 6 months. There was no adverse event in 3 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that a complex of 5-ALA and GHK peptide may be considered as one of the complementary agents for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Weon Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Won
authors.initials: do W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engimeering, College of Public Health and Welfare, Dongshin University, Naju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yim
keywords: 5-aminolevulinic acid; Glycyl-histidyl-lysine peptide; Pattern hair loss