PMID- 12006122
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20021119
LR  - 20140728
IS  - 1075-5535 (Print)
IS  - 1075-5535 (Linking)
VI  - 8
IP  - 2
DP  - 2002 Apr
TI  - A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the 
      effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the 
      treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
PG  - 143-52
AB  - BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the structural 
      miniaturization of androgen-sensitive hair follicles in susceptible individuals 
      and is anatomically defined within a given pattern of the scalp. Biochemically, 
      one contributing factor of this disorder is the conversion of testosterone (T) to 
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via the enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5AR). This metabolism 
      is also key to the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 
      Furthermore, AGA has also been shown to be responsive to drugs and agents used to 
      treat BPH. Of note, certain botanical compounds have previously demonstrated 
      efficacy against BPH. Here, we report the first example of a placebo-controlled, 
      double-blind study undertaken in order to examine the benefit of these botanical 
      substances in the treatment of AGA. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to 
      test botanically derived 5AR inhibitors, specifically the liposterolic extract of 
      Serenoa repens (LSESr) and beta-sitosterol, in the treatment of AGA. SUBJECTS: 
      Included in this study were males between the ages of 23 and 64 years of age, in 
      good health, with mild to moderate AGA. RESULTS: The results of this pilot study 
      showed a highly positive response to treatment. The blinded investigative staff 
      assessment report showed that 60% of (6/10) study subjects dosed with the active 
      study formulation were rated as improved at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: This 
      study establishes the effectiveness of naturally occurring 5AR inhibitors against 
      AGA for the first time, and justifies the expansion to larger trials.
FAU - Prager, Nelson
AU  - Prager N
AD  - Clinical Research and Development Network, Aurora, CO, USA.
FAU - Bickett, Karen
AU  - Bickett K
FAU - French, Nita
AU  - French N
FAU - Marcovici, Geno
AU  - Marcovici G
LA  - eng
PT  - Clinical Trial
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Randomized Controlled Trial
PL  - United States
TA  - J Altern Complement Med
JT  - Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
JID - 9508124
RN  - 0 (Enzyme Inhibitors)
RN  - 0 (Plant Extracts)
RN  - 0 (Sitosterols)
RN  - 5LI01C78DD (gamma-sitosterol)
RN  - EC 1.- (Oxidoreductases)
RN  - EC 1.3.1.22 (Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase)
SB  - IM
EIN - J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Mar;12(2):199
MH  - Adult
MH  - Alopecia/*drug therapy/*prevention & control
MH  - Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase
MH  - Double-Blind Method
MH  - Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Oxidoreductases/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use
MH  - *Phytotherapy
MH  - Pilot Projects
MH  - Plant Extracts/*therapeutic use
MH  - *Serenoa
MH  - Sitosterols/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use
MH  - Treatment Outcome
EDAT- 2002/05/15 10:00
MHDA- 2002/11/26 04:00
CRDT- 2002/05/15 10:00
PHST- 2002/05/15 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2002/11/26 04:00 [medline]
PHST- 2002/05/15 10:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1089/acm.2002.8.143 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52. doi: 10.1089/acm.2002.8.143.