-         Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology –

Dutasteride may soon become a new treatment option for many millions of men, suffering from male pattern hair loss (MPHL). The study proving the effectiveness of dutasteride in reversing the hair loss was described recently in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and the referring press-release was issued by the Blackwell Publishing.

Using pairs of identical twins, the scientists showed that dutasteride is effective in treating male baldness. During the study, one group of patients was treated with 0.5 mg daily dose of dutasteride, while another group received placebo pills. The assessments were made after 6 and 12 month intervals.

It is interesting to note that the study proved not only the ability of dutasteride to stop hair loss, but also to significantly improve hair growth. Scientists say that the rate of hair growth increased between the 6 and 12-month evaluations, while hair loss continued steadily in the placebo group.

Dutasteride is a new molecular entity, used nowadays for the treatment of enlarged prostate in men. The medication is manufactured by Glaxosmithkline pharmaceutical company under the brand name Avodart, which was approved by the FDA in 2001.

Dutasteride is a chemical, which is close to finasteride, which is approved for both: treatment of enlarged prostate (brand name Proscar) and treatment of male pattern baldness (brand name Propecia). Dutasteride is a newer medication and additional studies are required by the FDA to approve it as the anti-baldness medication.

It is important to underline that the pharmaceutical profile of dutasteride may seem to be more promising in comparison to finasteride. Though both medications target specific enzyme, which is responsible for progressing of hair loss in men, there is one important difference between these two medications.

The point is that there are two types of enzyme 5-alpha reductase that converts testosterone into dihidrotestosterone (DHT), thus contributing to the development of baldness. Consequently, the treatment of hair loss aims at inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase and reducing the level of DHT. However, while Propecia (finasteride) inhibits only one type of 5-alpha reductase (type 2), dutasteride is said to inhibit both types of the “baldness enzyme”.

Though some scientists say that the role of type 1 5-alpha reductase in causing baldness is not well studied, this may still become a key to effective treatment of baldness. Anyway, the recent study showed the significant improvement of hair growth in patients in the period of 6 – 12 month (for comparison - Propecia promises to stop hair loss in 12 months and to increase number of hairs on the head only after 5 years of treatment).

Consequently, if the effectiveness and safety of dutasteride will be further proved in other necessary studies, we may soon get a new treatment option for men, suffering from hair loss. Till than some doctors still may prescribe Avodart against baldness after evaluating all the pros and cons of the medication use in every particular case. However, such practice belongs to the so-called “off-label” use, and it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

---

External resources
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Se...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070611113313.htm
http://www.ishrs.org/articles/dutasteride-trials.htm
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/press/pressitem.asp?ref=1272
http://www.propecia.com/finasteride/propecia/consumer/facts/timeline_for_resu...

(C) ePillz.com, All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in any form.

Your Feedback for This Article

Nickname: Input code the below: