We’ve been saying for years that a multi-pronged approach to treating hair loss will bring far better results. Addressing multiple factors simultaneously seems like a no brainer, but many continue to use one treatment compound, ie Saw Palmetto, Propecia, Rogaine thus-significantly diminishing their chances of any success.

      This particular study involving human keratinocytes points to the anti-inflammatory effects of Thioctic Acid (Alpha Lipoic Acid) in combination with Carnitine and its implications for treating hair loss. The use of these agents in conjunction with Saw Palmetto Extract would result in” improved efficacy over current modalities” according to the authors. This study validates what we’ve been positing for quite some time.

      There are several compounds which exert potent anti-inflammatory effects both topically and systemically in Androgenetic Alopecia. These include, but are not limited to the oral combination of Resveratrol/Curcumin, Soy Isoflavones/Cayenne Pepper, Green Tea/Taurine /Zinc, Grape Seed Extract, and the topical use of Emu Oil, Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Shampoo, and Copper Peptides,(TriComin, Folligen, Dr. Proctor’s Formulas). 5 alpha reductase inhibitors include but are not limited to Saw Palmetto Extract, (mentioned in this study), Super Bio-Curcumin, Theaflavins (Black Tea Extract) Finasteride (Proscar/Propecia), Soy Isoflavone/Green Tea combination, Dutasteride (Avodart) and Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2). This study demonstrates that the combination of Alpha Lipoic acid and Carnitine would also have anti-inflammatory effects on hair.

      Despite what you may been told-that finasteride and dutasteride are the only legit 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, there is ample evidence to the contrary. You can readily target both DHT and inflammation present in AGA pharmaceutically and/or naturally in a way that confers additional anti-aging benefits.

Inhibition of Inflammatory Gene Expression in Keratinocytes Using a Composition Containing Carnitine, Thioctic Acid and Saw Palmetto Extract
Sridar Chittur, Brian Parr1 and Geno Marcovici

State University of New York (SUNY), Albany, NY and Advanced Restoration Technologies, Inc., Phoenix, AZ, USA

Chronic inflammation of the hair follicle (HF) is considered a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Previously, we clinically tested liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr) and its glycoside, β-sitosterol, in subjects with AGA and showed a highly positive response to treatment. In this study, we sought to determine whether blockade of inflammation using a composition containing LSESr as well as two anti-inflammatory agents (carnitine and thioctic acid) could alter the expression of molecular markers of inflammation in a well-established in vitro system. Using a well-validated assay representative of HF keratinocytes, specifically, stimulation of cultured human keratinocyte cells in vitro, we measured changes in gene expression of a spectrum of well-known inflammatory markers. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) provided an inflammatory stimulus. In particular, we found that the composition effectively suppressed LPS-activated gene expression of chemokines, including CCL17, CXCL6 and LTB(4) associated with pathways involved in inflammation and apoptosis. Our data support the hypothesis that the test compound exhibits anti-inflammatory characteristics in a well-established in vitro assay representing HF keratinocyte gene expression. These findings suggest that 5-alpha reductase inhibitors combined with blockade of inflammatory processes could represent a novel two-pronged approach in the treatment of AGA with improved efficacy over current modalities.