No vitamin D advantage for bald men
http://www.hair123.co.uk/articles/articles/52/1/No-vitamin-D-advantage-for-bald-men/Page1.html
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.By Jeremy Harkin
Published on 10th December, 2008
Scientists at New Zealand's Auckland University have concluded that bald men do not
absorb any more vitamin D from the sun than men with full heads of hair.
Led by Dr Mark Bolland, researchers studied 296 middle-aged and older men in an attempt to discover more about why older men commonly have higher levels of vitamin D than older women.
Led by Dr Mark Bolland, researchers studied 296 middle-aged and older men in an attempt to discover more about why older men commonly have higher levels of vitamin D than older women.
Auckland University scientists have concluded that bald men do not absorb any more vitamin D from the sun than men with full heads of hair.
Led by Dr Mark Bolland, researchers studied 296 middle-aged and older men in an attempt to discover more about why older men commonly have higher levels of vitamin D than older women.
Nearly half of the study’s participants (48%) had either a full head of hair or only "mild" recession, whereas 37% were bald or had “significant” hair loss. The remaining 15% had "predominant" hair loss.
Even taking into account all the variables across the groups (such as participants’ skin types and how often they wore a hat or applied sunblock to their scalps), researchers could not find any statistically significant difference in the men's levels of vitamin D.
"We conclude that baldness does not appear to have an effect on vitamin D status," said the study’s authors. Nevertheless, they warned the results could have been compromised by "undisclosed use of hair pieces or 'comb over' techniques".
The researchers said it was possible older women’s vitamin D deficiency was due to less sun exposure in general and a greater likelihood to use sunblock. Over 70% of men over the age of 70 have significant hair loss, according to the researchers.
Led by Dr Mark Bolland, researchers studied 296 middle-aged and older men in an attempt to discover more about why older men commonly have higher levels of vitamin D than older women.
Nearly half of the study’s participants (48%) had either a full head of hair or only "mild" recession, whereas 37% were bald or had “significant” hair loss. The remaining 15% had "predominant" hair loss.
Even taking into account all the variables across the groups (such as participants’ skin types and how often they wore a hat or applied sunblock to their scalps), researchers could not find any statistically significant difference in the men's levels of vitamin D.
"We conclude that baldness does not appear to have an effect on vitamin D status," said the study’s authors. Nevertheless, they warned the results could have been compromised by "undisclosed use of hair pieces or 'comb over' techniques".
The researchers said it was possible older women’s vitamin D deficiency was due to less sun exposure in general and a greater likelihood to use sunblock. Over 70% of men over the age of 70 have significant hair loss, according to the researchers.