The cure for male pattern baldness may already be found in humans.
This condition, which causes gradual hair loss, affects up to 50% of men worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the UK claim that the solution may be found in sugars that occur naturally in the human body.
Hair loss and prostate medication may also reduce risk of heart disease, study finds
The study, published in the medical journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, found that the sugar, known as 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is involved in various biological processes in animals and humans and can stimulate hair regrowth in mice.
Scientists from the University of Sheffield in the UK and COMSATS University in Pakistan have been studying the sugar for the past eight years, focusing on its ability to aid wound healing by forming new blood vessels.
According to the University of Sheffield, male pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men worldwide. (iStock)
The researchers noticed that hair around the wounds also seemed to grow more quickly compared to untreated wounds.
The scientists then tested this in mice with testosterone-induced hair loss, which is similar to the cause of male pattern baldness, according to a university press release.
New hair loss treatments may emerge after major discovery, researchers say
Just a small amount of sugar caused new blood vessels to form and hair to regrow.
According to the university, the results of the study suggest that deoxyribose sugar may have the same effect as hair growth drugs.
Researchers reported that administering small amounts of the sugar deoxyribose to mice regrows hair. (iStock)
Dr Sheila McNeill, emeritus professor of tissue engineering at the University of Sheffield, said further research into male pattern baldness could benefit.
“Currently, there are only two FDA-approved medications for this condition,” she said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Choose the best hairbrush for your hair type
“A joint British-Pakistani research team has unexpectedly discovered a small, naturally occurring sugar that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels. Not only does it aid in wound healing, [also] It stimulates hair growth in animal models.”
McNeil noted that the sugar is “natural, cheap and stable” and can be administered in an “easy-to-apply gel,” and that the researchers plan to study this further.
The researchers (not pictured) suggested that the sugar could potentially be manufactured into a hair gel. (iStock)
Dr. John White, chief medical officer for WebMD in Washington, D.C., called the study findings “interesting” in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
“The effectiveness of this natural sugar suggests it has great potential for developing new hair loss treatments,” said White, who was not involved in the study.
Having a bad hair day? You might be tempted to blame a relative or family member, study suggests
Current treatments “have been around for some time, have limited effectiveness and can have side effects,” he noted.
Because the research is still in its early stages, further investigation and clinical trials will be needed to determine whether the sugar “can be safely and effectively developed as an effective treatment for male pattern baldness,” White added.
“Further research is needed before it can be approved as a treatment,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“The public should view these results with cautious optimism,” he continued.
“This study offers hope for a new natural treatment for hair loss, but more research is needed before it can be accepted as a treatment.”
Click here to sign up for our Health Newsletter
New York dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp also responded to the study’s findings, reiterating to Fox News Digital that treatments for alopecia are limited.
“This study offers hope for a new natural treatment for hair loss, but more research is needed before it can be accepted as a treatment.”
“Many treatments have been studied, but none have been found to be curative,” said Camp, who was not involved in the study.
“The goal of alopecia treatment today is to help patients keep their hair.”
For more health stories, visit www.foxnews/health
If future studies are successful, the research could eventually lead to new effective treatments, he said.
“The treatment in question, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), is thought to promote hair growth by causing an increase in the number of blood vessels,” he said.
Dermatologists have noted that there is currently no cure for alopecia. (iStock)
“It may be effective in encouraging the growth of existing hair follicles, but it is unlikely that hair follicles that have already been lost will regrow.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
“Although this treatment is promising, further studies are needed to confirm the reproducibility, efficacy and practicality of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) as a treatment for hair loss,” he added.
