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Are
iron levels reduced in association with pattern baldness ?
Iron levels may have a part to play in hair loss and may affect
response to treatment. Some published articles from Europe suggest
that iron ferritin levels are reduced in people with pattern alopecia,
especially women. Rushton suggested that a serum ferritin level
above 40 micrograms/l was important for the success of treating
female baldness with cyproterone acetate.
However, there is some resistance in the USA to the idea that ferritin
levels are low in people with pattern baldness as the European studies
were conducted on a small scale and some did not involve appropriate
comparative controls. Before serum ferritin deficiency in association
with pattern baldness can be confidently claimed, evidence must
be obtained from a large scale study with appropriate controls.
Ideally, hemoglobin levels greater than 13.0 g/dL, and serum ferritin
concentrations of around 70 ng/mL are appropriate for normal hair
growth according to Rushton.
Are
iron levels reduced in association with pattern baldness references
- Rushton
DH, Ramsay ID. The importance of adequate serum ferritin levels
during oral cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol treatment
of diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia in women. Clin Endocrinol
(Oxf). 1992 Apr;36(4):421-7.
- Rushton
DH. Management of hair loss in women. Dermatol Clin. 1993 Jan;11(1):47-53.
- Moltz
L. [Hormonal diagnosis in so-called androgenetic alopecia in the
female]. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1988 Apr;48(4):203-14.
- Aydingoz IE, Ferhanoglu B, Guney O. Does
tissue iron status have a role in female alopecia? J Eur Acad
Dermatol Venereol. 1999 Jul;13(1):65-7.
- Comaish S. Metabolic disorders and hair
growth. Br J Dermatol. 1971 Jan;84(1):83-6.
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