Nutraceuticals for Androgenetic Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Several oral nutraceuticals have recently emerged as products marketed to increase hair growth and thickness. However, these supplements typically lack the rigorous testing and statistically significant data that apply to pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the potential benefits of oral nutraceuticals for conditions of hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia, have yet to be fully understood by dermatologists. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to evaluate current studies in the literature to assess the efficacy of popular oral nutraceuticals marketed for hair growth in subjects with androgenetic alopecia. METHODS: This article reviews the currently available literature on the nutraceuticals Nutrafol® and Viviscal® for hair growth and describes and evaluates the results observed. RESULTS: Oral nutraceuticals are effective to a modest degree in promoting hair growth in men and women with androgenetic alopecia. CONCLUSION: Oral nutraceuticals have demonstrated efficacy in promoting modest hair growth in men and women with androgenetic alopecia and may serve as useful adjuncts to current treatments. As the popularity of nutraceuticals grows, it is important for dermatologists to be knowledgeable of the potential benefits and pitfalls of these supplements to appropriately counsel patients seeking treatment for hair loss.