What Do Annurca AppleMets Studies Show About Hair Growth?

Short answer

Annurca apple polyphenol research is interesting but preliminary. One human study reported increases in hair number, weight and keratin content, but a published methodological critique concluded that its design could not establish that the supplement caused those changes. Separate taxane-related research involved murine hair follicles and mice—not people receiving chemotherapy.

What is AppleMets?

AppleMets is an Annurca apple polyphenolic extract used in research on keratin production and hair measurements. Annurca apples contain oligomeric procyanidins, including procyanidin B2. The studies tested specific formulations; their findings cannot automatically be transferred to every apple-polyphenol product.

Did oral AppleMets change hair counts, hair weight or keratin?

The 2018 paper included laboratory work and a study of 250 adults. Participants first received placebo and then one of two active formulations. The authors reported increases in hair number, hair weight and keratin content during active supplementation. One formulation also contained biotin, selenium and zinc, so its findings cannot be attributed to procyanidin B2 alone.

Read the Annurca AppleMets paper.

Why does giving placebo before AppleMets weaken the hair-growth evidence?

A later published critique pointed out that participants were not randomized between an active treatment and a concurrent placebo group. Everyone received placebo first and active supplementation later, which also makes true double-blinding doubtful. Time, seasonal hair changes and placebo effects therefore could not be separated adequately from treatment effects.

Read the published critique of the trial design.

Did Annurca apple extract protect mouse follicles from taxane damage?

A separate 2018 study examined Annurca apple polyphenolic extract in murine hair follicles and mice exposed to taxanes. Researchers reported protection against follicle dystrophy and proposed metabolic mechanisms involving fatty-acid oxidation and prostaglandin F2 alpha.

Read the taxane-related animal study.

Has AppleMets prevented chemotherapy-related hair loss in people?

The animal findings do not demonstrate that AppleMets or another oral apple supplement prevents chemotherapy-related hair loss in humans. They should not be used to recommend supplements before, during or after chemotherapy. Patients should discuss any supplement with their oncology team because supplements can interact with treatment.

Related Procyanidin B2 Research

For the broader evidence—including topical procyanidin B2 trials and the oral Annurca study—read Does Procyanidin B2 Help Hair Growth? What the Research Shows.