Glutamic acid promotes hair growth in mice

Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 29;11(1):15453. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94816-y.
Glutamic acid promotes hair growth in mice
Carlos Poblete Jara 1 2 3 4, Beatriz de Andrade Berti 5 6 7, Natália Ferreira Mendes 5 6 7, Daiane Fátima Engel 8 6 7, Ariane Maria Zanesco 8 6 7, Gabriela Freitas Pereira de Souza 9 7, Renan de Medeiros Bezerra 5 6 7, Julia de Toledo Bagatin 10, Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler 10, Joseane Morari 8 6 7, William H Velander 11, Lício A Velloso 8 6 7, Eliana Pereira Araújo 5 6 7


Glutamic acid is the main excitatory neurotransmitter acting both in the brain and in peripheral tissues. Abnormal distribution of glutamic acid receptors occurs in skin hyperproliferative conditions such as psoriasis and skin regeneration; however, the biological function of glutamic acid in the skin remains unclear. Using ex vivo, in vivo and in silico approaches, we showed that exogenous glutamic acid promotes hair growth and keratinocyte proliferation. Topical application of glutamic acid decreased the expression of genes related to apoptosis in the skin, whereas glutamic acid increased cell viability and proliferation in human keratinocyte cultures. In addition, we identified the keratinocyte glutamic acid excitotoxic concentration, providing evidence for the existence of a novel skin signalling pathway mediated by a neurotransmitter that controls keratinocyte and hair follicle proliferation. Thus, glutamic acid emerges as a component of the peripheral nervous system that acts to control cell growth in the skin. These results raise the perspective of the pharmacological and nutritional use of glutamic acid to treat skin diseases.

Full: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8322389/

Wouldn't hurt to try a homemade glutamic acid topical cream for baldness. But you'd be guessing at what concentrations to use or what it dissolves easily into. You can order glutamic acid skin creams but they are pretty expensive and the jars are pretty small.