Researchers looked into the relationship between drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and male pattern baldness.
By the age of 50, 30 to 50 percent of men experience male pattern hair loss (MPHL), the most prevalent kind of hair loss in men. Recent research indicates that the prevalence of MPHL may be rising. According to a Chinese poll, the ailment will afflict 27.5% of men by 2021. Also, diet is crucial to MPHL. Furthermore, hair loss may be influenced by glucose metabolism.
More investigation into the relationship between MPHL risk and sugar consumption may help men at risk for MPHL make better lifestyle decisions.
Researchers from Tsinghua University in China, recently looked at the relationship between MPHL and the use of sugar-sweetened drinks (SSBs). They discovered a link between increased SSB consumption and an increased risk of MPHL.
Sugary beverages and male hair fall:
1028 college students and teachers with an average age of 27.8 years were gathered by the researchers from 31 Chinese regions. Responses to the 15-item Beverage Intake Questionnaire, which looked at their consumption of beverages in the previous month, were used to calculate the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
In all, 57.6% of subjects reported MPHL while the remaining participants did not.
They also discovered that people with MPHL eat less fresh produce and more fried foods, desserts, ice cream, and sugar than people without the illness.
A week’s worth of sugar-sweetened beverages was also drank on average by 4.3 litres by people with MPHL as opposed to merely 2.5 litres by people without the disease. They also discovered that disease history affected the association between SSB intake and MPHL. They also discovered a connection between MPHL and both anxiety disorders and the frequency of SSB consumption.
Even after taking into account potential confounders such sociodemographic variables, food intake, and psychological status, the relationship between SSB consumption and MPHL persisted.
How sugar intake cause MPHL:
Dr. Ai Zhao, Ph.D., one of the study’s authors, explained how sugary beverage intake and male hair loss is related to blood sugar levels. Consuming more sugar raises blood sugar levels. This activate polyol pathways that change glucose into other sugars.
According to in vitro and in vivo research, this mechanism lowers the quantity of glucose in the outer regions of hair follicles, which may cause MPHL, she said. She continued by saying that MPHL is also associated to high fat intake, which is frequently combined with sugar consumption.
Dr. Zhao said that prior research has connected mental health issues with a heavy sugar diet.
Limitations and conclusions:
Dr. Zhao pointed out that because they relied on self-reported data, their findings are limited. She added that they did not collect information on the use of other sweetened products. Also she stated that they were unable to determine the severity of sugary beverage intake on male hair loss.
Parvathy Sukumaran 
