Early Androgenetic Alopecia and Insulin Resistance-A case control study

Abstract

Background: In Androgenetic alopecia AGA, androgens induce miniaturization of hair follicles in those genetically predisposed to baldness. The previously known association between Androgenetic Alopecia AGA and cardiovascular risk factors raises a question of common pathogenetic mechanism of these disorders. Aim: To study the association of Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in early onset AGA in young males Materials and Methods: This was a case control study with 30 participants in each group. Young males between 18 and 35 years of age were included in the study. Participants in the cases group had AGA greater than stage 3. Blood pressure, anthropometry, fasting insulin and glucose levels in blood, lipid profile, total and free testosterone and TSH were investigated for all participants. Insulin resistance was calculated using HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome criteria devised by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Pannel III NCEP ATP III was used. Results: Cases had a higher mean diastolic blood pressure and a more frequent family history of AGA than controls. Total and free testosterone levels were significantly more in participants with AGA than controls. There was no significant difference in Insulin resistance and Metabolic syndrome criteria between the cases and controls but the prevalence of Insulin resistance IR and metabolic syndrome MS increased with the severity of AGA. Conclusion: In conclusion, more studies are required in order to objectively clarify whether early AGA can be attributed to dyslipidaemia due to androgens, IR alone, or MS due to IR. In the present study we could not establish a clear cut role of IR or MS, though the testosterones were significantly higher in the AGA participants suggesting the role of androgens. Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistance