Hypothesis: Baldness caused by excess 5ar. Excess 5ar caused by need for protective hormones.

Saw this on peatarian

"5 alpha reductase (5AR) is an enzyme which comes in two forms, type I
and type II. It not only converts testosterone (T) to
dihydrotestosterone (DHT, a ketone), it also converts progesterone to
allopregnanolone and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) to tetrahydroDOC (THDOC),
both allosteric enhancers of the GABA(a) receptor (e.g., they increase
the effectiveness of inhibition signals relayed along GABA channels in
nerves). The second stage of this conversion is performed by
3alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase."

"Progesterone is the
precursor to allopregnanolone."

"Levels of allopregnanolone can also be regulated by 3alpha-HSDs
(3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) - enzymes which are identical in
function to 5AR, except they convert T back from DHT instead of the
other way around. 3alpha-HSDs are responsible for downregulating levels
of DHT in the prostate and unusual inhibition of 3alpha-HSD would
increase DHT levels, decrease allopregnanolone and incline a male toward
impaired GABA functioning, acne, baldness, BHP and prostate cancer.
Stimulating 3alpha-HSD might be more effective than 5AR inhibition for
treating androgen disorders"

"Finasteride is a 5AR type II inhibitor which
reduces DHT levels by up to 70%. Dutasteride inhibits both type I and
type II 5AR achieving a reduction of up to 94% of DHT. Type I is the
only 5AR expressed in the brain. Its long term inhibition was never
studied when dutasteride was approved by the FDA. Blocking DHT
synthesis in the brain like this also blocks allopregnanolone production
there.."

"By taking antibiotics, you usually increase your risk for chronic
inflammatory disorders. In this case, killing your gut bacteria leaves
abnormally high levels of free DHT floating around in your blood
stimulating your androgen receptors beyond what your body is used to.
Over a lifetime, this brings out your genetic risk for androgen-driven
disorders like the ones I keep mentioning. Destroying your gut bacteria
with antibiotics probably also increases the risk for allergies, asthma,
arthritis and other inflammatory disorders"

Full: http://www.bio.net/mm/neur-sci/2004-August/058929.html

Makes perfect sense. This is absolutely consistent with what I've observed in those with a frequency history of antibiotic use.

In regards to baldness I'm not sure how antibiotics play a role, baldness has been around prior to antibiotics. Or it's just one of many others that cause mpb?

Kazbar wrote:In regards to baldness I'm not sure how antibiotics play a role, baldness has been around prior to antibiotics. Or it's just one of many others that cause mpb?

I believe the basic explanation to baldness other than a specific type of inflammation generating the free-radicals is also the effects of stress. Any significant rise in corticotrophin releasing factor can cause potential hair loss. However, when we consume antibiotics, our "immunity" or stress tolerance reduces.

In fact, corticotropin-releasing factor is regulator in stress response from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, its negative effects are reduced when the microflora is replenished.

One thing I have observed is those who have difficulty with digestion/bowel issues will have a considerably higher sensitivity to stress. Not surprisingly is that many of them were given antibiotics (broad spectrum), that can permanently destroy critical microflora.

Thanks CS, could antibiotics play a role with pyrrolia?

CS, do you have any knowledge to more specific recommendations in supplying beneficial flora (stains) back in? I am positive that the connection is crucial, yet undervalued mainstream, and how you value the idea of resistant starch helping to rebalance some of it?

Kazbar wrote:Thanks CS, could antibiotics play a role with pyrrolia?

Yes, antibiotics can reduce urine pyrrole excretion so it's entirely possible that pyroluria could be caused by the derangement of microflora. Even if antibiotics are not taken, there's also the fact that animal feed is loaded with it.

CS,

regarding stress- what's your take on daily coffee consumption and cortisol, etc.?