Hair regeneration by Metformin

New from UCLA: Hair Regeneration by Metformin


Metformin is an anti-diabetes drug that is widely known to possess profound anti-aging properties. Serious Life Extensionists, including myself, have integrated Metformin into their anti-aging protocols, which according to many in the scientific community, could conceivably extend average human life span well beyond 100 years.
Metformin, from what we know so far, has strongly positive implications for hair growth as well. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), is a disorder in women that is characterized by irregular menstruation, poor insulin management, hirsutism , (unwanted body hair growth), acne, and Androgenetic (Pattern) hair loss. Until recently the go to treatment for PCOS symptoms was either Spironolactone, an anti-androgen with nasty side effects, or anti-androgenic birth control pills, which do work to some extent against acne and hair loss, but unfortunately raise the risk for breast cancer in women. Research has also shown that there is a relatively common genetic variant of this disorder in men, that is almost perfectly correlated with Androgenetic Alopecia, (Male Pattern Baldness).
Both Androgenetic Hair loss, and Androgenetic hair loss induced by PCOS in both genders are closely tied to insulin resistance. Though not an anti-androgen, Metformin enhances insulin sensitivity, and in studies done thus far, conclude that Metformin effectively resolves insulin resistance, acne, hirsutism, and Hair loss related to PCOS
Because of the mechanisms underlying both men’s and women’s hormone related hair loss, the treatment recommendations would be identical whether or not the hair loss was ultimately of PCOS origin. In other words, if Metformin stops hair loss associated with PCOS, it would assuredly be useful for, other anti-aging benefits notwithstanding, regular MPB in a non-diabetic, non-PCOS population.

In a prior update we featured a case study that detailed the apparent hair growth effects of oral Ashwagandha, an Adaptogenic herb from India, on a senior female with long standing Androgenetic Alopecia







Hair regeneration by small molecules that activate autophagy
Min Chai, Meisheng Jiang, Laurent Vergnes, Xudong Fu, Stephanie C de Barros, Jing Jiao, Harvey R Herschman, Gay M Crooks, Karen Reue, Jing Huang


Abstract
Hair plays important roles, ranging from the conservation of body heat to the preservation of psychological well-being. Hair loss or alopecia affects millions worldwide and can occur because of aging, hormonal dysfunction, autoimmunity, or as a side effect of cancer treatment (Gilhar et al., 2012; Petukhova et al., 2010). Methods that can be used to regrow hair are highly sought after, but lacking. Here we report that hair regeneration can be stimulated by small molecules that activate autophagy, including the longevity metabolites α-ketoglutarate and α-ketobutyrate, and the prescription drugs rapamycin and metformin which impinge on TOR and AMPK signaling.
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Metformin has been around for decades, and is a low cost drug that only cost pennies a day in its generic forms, which are perfectly legit. If you can’t obtain a prescription for Metformin, you can easily get it from any mail order pharmacy from Europe, Canada, Mexico or India. There are no significant side effects associated with its usage. The recommended dose for both hair growth and anti-aging purposes is 1,000-2,000 mg a day.

In a prior update we featured a case study that detailed the apparent hair growth effects of oral Ashwagandha, an Adaptogenic herb from India, on a senior female with long standing Androgenetic Alopecia, who resolved her hair loss after using Ashwagandha. Ashwaghanda has been identified as a Metformin mimetic, meaning that It pharmacologically produces identical effects, and likely more, as it functions as a cognitive enhancing “stress buster,’ significantly enhancing the body’s ability to adapt to sleep deprivation and both mental and physical demands.

If you, for, whaever reason, cannot obtain Metformin, we would recommend Ashwagandha at a dose of 125mg, twice a day, of the Sensoril standardized extract.


Related Article:
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• Study: Ashwagandha Reverses Long Standing Androgenetic Hairloss
http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateAshwagandhaReversesLongStandingAndrogeneticHairloss8-17.html