Beta-sitosterol/regime

Hi,

I am looking to maintain my hair on my head. Currently I am a norwood 1, with some temple loss. I have some velius hair on my temples that I would love to thicken up, but maintainence will be great. I am 24. That said I have the following questions about Beta-sitosterol:

1) Is the Beta-sitosterol found in avacados just has effective as the ones found in a suppliment. One avacado has 80 grams of Beta-sitosterol, is this just as effective as taking a suppliment to get the same amounts

2) I am currently taking 55grams of Beta-sitosterol a day. Silica tablets (omega 3), a multi vitamin pill and have just started applying olive oil toppik onto my head twice a week, is this enough for maintainence?

Thanks.

oknow - I've heard they can contain up to 100 mg in some cases, but I'm not certain if it's as effective, but probably worth a try.

CS-

You seem to be fairly anti-beta sit. Being that it is supposedly an effective DHT blocker, would you still recommend not using it even if the fin type sides don't occur? Is there really any long term effects associated with it?

big mike - Well to be clear on Beta-Sitosterol it does have a good use, although I believe it should not be a permanent solution. If you use a small amount of Beta-Sitosterol, between 50 mg and 100 mg, you maybe side-effect free, but not necessarily in everyone. I believe it has greater value in the early balding--because based on a study, blocking DHT tapers off in efficacy after the age of 26, so there are other forces at work in later years.

I still block DHT to an extent, for example I use Omega-3 sources and Sulforaphane and Curcumin downregulate the androgen receptor.

Sulforaphane downregulates the androgen receptor? I did not realize that. Doesn't green tea also? I think I'm using at least 4 or 5 things that do in my regimen... overkill? To be precise I'm using Curcumin, EGCG (and drink alot of green tea), Omega-3, Borage Oil, and consume Flax seeds regularly (twice daily). Frankly my libido isn't the best.

johnt - Each of those have a different effect, some with the androgen receptor, some with 5-alpha reductase others with 17-beta-HSD, so not overkill. What would be over kill is too much Beta-Sitosterol, Saw Palmetto, and Pygeum.

CS

Would this: http://www.iherb.com/Best-Saw-Palmetto-Standardized-Extract-320-mg-60-Softgels/24?at=0 be considered as "too much" taken 5 days a week?

Misirlou - Depends on sensitivity, but mostly likely not.

How would such sensitivity show it self?