May 24 2007, 12:32 pm PT | Posted in: Drugs + Hair Products
Dear Doctor:
Have you heard anything about the availability of Equol on the market? I understand equol binds to dht, essentialy deactivating it as it can not bind to the androgen receptor and cause hair loss. I have heard that there are “equol producers” that are able to create natural equol through a unique gut bacteria that converts soy into equol. I have heard that there are many that are not producers. Do you know if equol is being synthesized in the lab for use? Thanks very much!
Equol is a nonsteroidal estrogen that is made in human intestines from soy foods. Its DHT blocker function is documented, but in practice it has never been completely studied as a replacement for conventional DHT blockers such as finasteride. See Equol Is a Novel Anti-Androgen that Inhibits Prostate Growth and Hormone Feedback.
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Balding Forum
I came across this article which concludes that blocking estrogen may prevent/regrow hair. This sounds counter intuitive to me believing DHT, a derivative of testosterone is responsible i.e. castrated males with elevated high estrogen keep their hair, Anabolic Steroids raise free testosterone levels making users susceptible to hair loss, the density of womens’s hair tends to drop in later life when estrogen levels fall. What are your thoughts on this method alleviating hair loss? Can you explain the mechanisms that would cause an estrogen blocker to have this effect?
Thanks.
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