The cure for male pattern baldness may already lie within the human body.
Up to 50% of all men worldwide are affected by this condition, which causes gradual hair loss.
Researchers at the British University of Sheffield claim that the solution could lie in a sugar that occurs naturally in the human body.
Hair loss and prostate medications could also reduce the risk of heart disease, study suggests
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, found that this sugar, known as 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is involved in various biological processes in animals and humans and can stimulate hair growth in mice.
Scientists from Sheffield in the UK and COMSATS University in Pakistan have been studying the sugar for the past eight years, focusing on its ability to promote wound healing by forming new blood vessels.
According to the University of Sheffield, up to 50% of men worldwide are affected by male pattern baldness. (iStock)
The researchers noticed that the hair around the wounds appeared to grow faster than in untreated wounds.
The scientists then tested this on testosterone-induced hair loss in mice, which is similar to the cause of male pattern baldness, according to a university press release.
Researchers say new hair loss treatments may soon be possible following important discovery
Even the application of a small dose of sugar caused new blood vessels to form, which stimulated hair growth.
According to the university, the results suggest that the deoxyribose sugar could be as effective as drugs to promote hair growth.
Researchers reported that a small dose of deoxyribose sugar resulted in new hair growth in mice. (iStock)
Sheila MacNeil, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Tissue Engineering at the University of Sheffield, noted that more research into male pattern baldness would be beneficial.
“There are currently only two FDA-approved drugs for this disease,” she wrote in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
CHOOSE THE BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE
“During our British-Pakistani collaboration, we unexpectedly discovered a small, naturally occurring sugar that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels. We were delighted to find that it not only stimulates wound healing, but also stimulates hair growth in an animal model.”
The sugar is “natural, inexpensive and stable,” says MacNeill, and can be administered in the form of an “easy-to-use gel,” which the researchers plan to investigate further in further studies.
The sugar could be made into a hair gel, suggested the study researcher (not pictured). (iStock)
Dr. John Whyte, WebMD’s chief medical officer in Washington, DC, called the study’s results “fascinating” in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“The effectiveness of this naturally occurring sugar suggests significant potential in the development of new treatments for hair loss,” said Whyte, who was not involved in the research.
BAD HAIR DAY? STUDIES SHOW YOU MAY WANT TO BLAME YOUR RELATIVES AND FAMILY
Current therapies “have been around for some time, they have limited effectiveness and can have side effects,” the doctor noted.
Given that this research is still in its early stages, further research and clinical trials will be necessary to determine whether the sugar “can be safely and effectively developed into a viable cure for male pattern baldness,” Whyte added.
“More research is needed before it can be considered a cure,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“The public should view these results with cautious optimism,” he continued.
“The study gives hope for new natural treatments for hair loss, but more research is needed before we can speak of a cure.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
New York dermatologist Brendan Camp MD also responded to the findings, telling Fox News Digital that there are limited treatment options for hair loss.
“The study gives hope for new natural treatments for hair loss, but more research is needed before we can speak of a cure.”
“A number of possible treatments have been studied, but none have been shown to be curative,” said Camp, who was not involved in the research.
“The current goal of alopecia treatment is to help patients keep their existing hair.”
For more health-related articles, visit www.foxnews/health
This study could ultimately lead to a new, effective therapy if future research is successful, he said.
“The drug in question, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is thought to improve hair growth by increasing the number of blood vessels,” he said.
A dermatologist determined that there is currently no cure for alopecia. (iStock)
“Although it may be effective in stimulating the growth of existing hair follicles, it seems unlikely that it will regrow follicles that have already disappeared.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He added: “Although this treatment is promising, further studies are needed to confirm the reproducibility, efficacy and practical application of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) as a treatment for alopecia.”
