Oral and Topical Administration of a Standardized Saw Palmetto Oil Reduces Hair Fall and Improves the Hair Growth in Androgenetic Alopecia Subjects – A 16-Week Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
Heggar Venkataramana Sudeep, S Rashmi, Thomas V Jestin, Aleksander Richards, Kuluvar Gouthamchandra, Kodimule Shyamprasad
Abstract
Purpose: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in humans, affecting self-esteem and emotional well-being. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of VISPO TM , a standardized saw palmetto oil (2– 3% β-sitosterol), in subjects with mild-to-moderate AGA. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm clinical study, 80 healthy male and female subjects aged 18– 50 years were randomly allocated (1:1:1:1) to receive either 400 mg capsules of VISPO or 5 mL of a topical formulation containing 20% VISPO or the respective placebo once daily for 16 weeks. The primary endpoints included hair count (hair comb and hair pull tests) and the self-assessment of perceived efficacy. Objective evaluation was performed using the global photographic assessment score. Hair density, thickness, and anagen/telogen ratio were evaluated using phototrichogram analysis. Results: At the end of the study, oral and topical formulations of VISPO reduced hair fall by up to 29% ( p < 0.001) and 22.19% ( p < 0.01) from the baseline, respectively. Hair density increased by 5.17% and 7.61% in the oral and topical VISPO groups, respectively ( p < 0.001). In addition, oral ingestion of VISPO resulted in a marked reduction in serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the subjects compared to placebo ( p < 0.001). However, the effect of the VISPO formulations on the anagen/telogen ratio was insignificant. No serious adverse effects were observed during the study. Conclusion: VISPO formulations reduced hair fall and promoted hair regrowth and scalp appearance in AGA patients. Keywords: hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, saw palmetto, β-sitosterol, fatty acids