Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of Androgenetic Alopecia in males

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Dermatological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is well established that Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) occurs in genetically predisposed individuals but little is known of its non-genetic risk factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the Mediterranean diet in determining the risk of AGA. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in the outpatient clinics of the hospital “Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, Rome, Italy”. We included 104 males and 108 controls not affected by AGA. Controls were frequency matched to cases. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, smoking and diet were collected for all patients. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals. After controlling for age, education, body mass index and family history of AGA, protective effects for AGA were found for high consumption (≥ 3 times weekly) of raw vegetables (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21–0.89) and high consumption of fresh herbs (3 or more regularly) (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.22–0.87). We suggest that some foods of the Mediterranean diet, say fresh herbs and salad, may reduce the risk of AGA onset.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Agac MT, Bektas H, Korkmaz L, Cetin M, Erkan H, Gurbak I, Hatem E, Celik S (2015) Androgenetic alopecia is associated with increased arterial stiffness in asymptomatic young adults. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 29:26–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.12424

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bonaccio M, Pounis G, Cerletti C, Donati MB, Iacoviello L, de Gaetano G (2016) Mediterranean diet, dietary polyphenols and low-grade inflammation: results from the moli-sani study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12924

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Dean M (2003) Approaches to identify genes for complex human diseases: lessons from Mendelian disorders. Hum Mutat 22:261–274. https://doi.org/10.1002/humu.10259

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Dogramaci AC, Balci DD, Balci A, Karazincir S, Savas N, Topaloglu C, Yalcin F (2009) Is androgenetic alopecia a risk for atherosclerosis? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 23:673–677. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03137.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fortes C, Forastiere F, Farchi S, Mallone S, Trequattrinni T, Anatra F, Schmid G, Perucci CA (2003) The protective effect of the Mediterranean diet on lung cancer. Nutr Cancer 46:30–37. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327914nc4601_04

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Mannooranparampil TJ, Ribuffo M (2017) The combination of overweight and smoking increases the severity of androgenetic alopecia. Int J Dermatol 56:862–867. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.13652

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Melchi F, Pilla MA, Antonelli G, Camaioni D, Alotto M, Pasquini P (2008) A protective effect of the Mediterranean diet for cutaneous melanoma. Int J Epidemiol 37:1018–1029. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyn132

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Giacosa A, Barale R, Bavaresco L, Gatenby P, Gerbi V, Janssens J, Johnston B, Kas K, La Vecchia C, Mainguet P, Morazzoni P, Negri E, Pelucchi C, Pezzotti M, Rondanelli M (2013) Cancer prevention in Europe: the Mediterranean diet as a protective choice. Eur J Cancer Prev 22:90–95. https://doi.org/10.1097/CEJ.0b013e328354d2d7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Goldberg LJ, Lenzy Y (2010) Nutrition and hair. Clin Dermatol 28:412–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.038

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Goldenberg L, So A, Fleshner N, Rendon R, Drachenberg D, Elhilali M (2009) The role of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in prostate pathophysiology: Is there an additional advantage to inhibition of type 1 isoenzyme? Can Urol Assoc J 3:S109–S114

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Hiipakka RA, Zhang HZ, Dai W, Dai Q, Liao S (2002) Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of human 5alpha-reductases by polyphenols. Biochem Pharmacol 63:1165–1176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Huh S, Lee J, Jung E, Kim SC, Kang JI, Kim YW, Sung YK, Kang HK, Park D (2009) A cell-based system for screening hair growth-promoting agents. Arch Dermatol Res 301:381–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-009-0931-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Inui S, Itami S (2013) Androgen actions on the human hair follicle: perspectives. Exp Dermatol 22:168–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.12024

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lai CH, Chu NF, Chang CW, Wang SL, Yang HC, Chu CM, Chang CT, Lin MH, Chien WC, Su SL, Chou YC, Chen KH, Wang WM, Liou SH (2013) Androgenic alopecia is associated with less dietary soy, lower [corrected] blood vanadium and rs1160312 1 polymorphism in Taiwanese communities. PLoS One 8:e79789. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079789

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Mella JM, Perret MC, Manzotti M, Catalano HN, Guyatt G (2010) Efficacy and safety of finasteride therapy for androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol 146:1141–1150. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2010.256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Minihane AM, Vinoy S, Russell WR, Baka A, Roche HM, Tuohy KM, Teeling JL, Blak EE, Fenech M, Vauzour D, McArdle HJ, Kremer BH, Sterkman L, Vafeiadou K, Benedetti MM, Williams CM, Calder PC (2015) Low-grade inflammation, diet composition and health: current research evidence and its translation. Br J Nutr 114:999–1012. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114515002093

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Norwood OT (1975) Male pattern baldness: classification and incidence. South Med J 68:1359–1365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Nyholt DR, Gillespie NA, Heath AC, Martin NG (2003) Genetic basis of male pattern baldness. J Invest Dermatol 121:1561–1564. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1747.2003.12615.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Richards JB, Yuan X, Geller F, Waterworth D, Bataille V, Glass D, Song K, Waeber G, Vollenweider P, Aben KK, Kiemeney LA, Walters B, Soranzo N, Thorsteinsdottir U, Kong A, Rafnar T, Deloukas P, Sulem P, Stefansson H, Stefansson K, Spector TD, Mooser V (2008) Male-pattern baldness susceptibility locus at 20p11. Nat Genet 40:1282–1284. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Schwingshackl L, Hoffmann G (2014) Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Int J Cancer 135:1884–1897. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28824

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Severi G, Sinclair R, Hopper JL, English DR, McCredie MR, Boyle P, Giles GG (2003) Androgenetic alopecia in men aged 40–69 years: prevalence and risk factors. Br J Dermatol 149:1207–1213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sofi F, Cesari F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A (2008) Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis. BMJ 337:a1344

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Su LH, Chen TH (2007) Association of androgenetic alopecia with smoking and its prevalence among Asian men: a community-based survey. Arch Dermatol 143:1401–1406. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.143.11.1401

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Su LH, Chen TH (2010) Association of androgenetic alopecia with metabolic syndrome in men: a community-based survey. Br J Dermatol 163:371–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09816.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Yang CC, Hsieh FN, Lin LY, Hsu CK, Sheu HM, Chen W (2014) Higher body mass index is associated with greater severity of alopecia in men with male-pattern androgenetic alopecia in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol 70:297–302 e291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.09.036

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yeo IK, Jang WS, Min PK, Cho HR, Cho SW, Hong NS, Kang JS, Ki DH, Kim HJ, Kim YC, Kim YS, Lee IJ, Lee SW, Lim ES, Moon DC, Nam KH, Oho CK, Park SW, Shin KS, Yoo HC, Hong CK (2014) An epidemiological study of androgenic alopecia in 3114 Korean patients. Clin Exp Dermatol 39:25–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.12229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhou CK, Levine PH, Cleary SD, Hoffman HJ, Graubard BI, Cook MB (2016) Male pattern baldness in relation to prostate cancer-specific mortality: a prospective analysis in the NHANES I epidemiologic follow-up study. Am J Epidemiol 183:210–217. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwv190

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Marcella Ribuffo for helping in the assessment of AGA and for the training of the dermatologist in charge of data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS-FLMM), Via dei Monti di Creta, 104, 00167, Rome, Italy

    Cristina Fortes, S. Mastroeni, T. Mannooranparampil & D. Abeni

  2. Medical Direction, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS-FLMM), Rome, Italy

    A. Panebianco

Authors
  1. Cristina Fortes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Mastroeni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Mannooranparampil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Abeni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Panebianco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristina Fortes.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Funding

This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Corrente 5.1).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fortes, C., Mastroeni, S., Mannooranparampil, T. et al. Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of Androgenetic Alopecia in males. Arch Dermatol Res 310, 71–76 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1799-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1799-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation