Background
Multiple biomarkers have been associated with hair loss in women, but studies have shown inconsistent results.
Objectives
We investigated the associations between markers of cardiovascular disease risk (e.g. serum lipid levels and hypertension) and ageing [e.g. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)] with hair loss in a population of middle-aged women.
Methods
In a random subgroup of 323 middle-aged women (mean age 61·5 years) from the Leiden Longevity Study, hair loss was graded by three assessors using the Sinclair scale; women with a mean score > 1·5 were classified as cases with hair loss.
Results
Every 1 SD increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was associated with a 0·65-times lower risk [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·46-0·91] of hair loss. For IGF-1 the risk was 0·68 times lower (95% CI 0·48-0·97) per 1 SD increase, independently of the other studied variables. Women with both IGF-1 and HDL cholesterol levels below the medians of the study population had a 3·47-times higher risk (95% CI 1·30-9·25) of having hair loss.
Conclusions
Low HDL cholesterol and IGF-1 were associated with a higher risk of hair loss in women. However, further studies are required to infer causal relationships.
© 2016 British Association of Dermatologists.
Overview publication
Title | Both low circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with hair loss in middle-aged women. |
Date | October 1st, 2016 |
Issue name | The British journal of dermatology |
Issue number | v175.4:728-34 |
DOI | 10.1111/bjd.14529 |
Authors | |
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