Dietary supplement increases anagen hair rate in women with telogen effluvium: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Issue 1 (January 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lengg, Nadine; Heidecker, Barbara; Seifert, Burkhardt; Trüüeb, Ralph M
• Is Part Of: Therapy. Volume 4:Issue 1(2007)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2007-01
• Subjects: anagen hair rate -- CYP complex -- dietary supplement -- Pantogar®® -- telogen effluvium -- TrichoScan -- women; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.2217/14750708.4.1.59
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-0708

Abstract

Background: Dietary supplements are traditionally used over-the-counter products for the treatment of hair loss.Objectives: We aim to examine the effect of a specificL -cystine, medicinal yeast, pantothenic acid complex-based dietary supplement (Pantogar ®® ) on telogen effluvium in healthy women.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted over 6 months in 30 healthy women suffering from telogen effluvium. The efficacy of the supplement was evaluated by means of digitalized epiluminescent microscopy (TrichoScan) performed before treatment and after 3 and 6 months. Additionally, global photographs were taken and evaluated by independent investigators.Results: Active compound led to a statistically significant improvement and normalization of the mean anagen hair rate within 6 months of treatment (p = 0.003), while there was no significant change in the placebo group (p = 0.85). These changes of the anagen hair rates were significantly different (p = 0.008). The appearance of hair growth in the global photographic assessment was judged better in the active compound than in the placebo group.Conclusions: This is the first study performed combining epiluminiscence microscopy with digital image analysis to demonstrate that a dietary supplement influences hair growth. The mode of action is not known, although it seems to result from an induction of anagen.