According to a study from South Korean company Gragem Co, Ltd., a chemical compound found in broccoli called sulforaphane may increase hair strand count by seven percent in men and can help promote growth for women struggling with a hair loss condition known as androgenic alopecia (AGA).
Scientists examined growth over an 18-week period of application. At the end of the time period, researchers noticed the prototype gel led to visual improvements. “We expect that sulforaphane has the potential to become a highly effective functional hair cosmetic to relieve hair loss with AGA,” said one of the scientists.
US hair restoration specialist Dr. Craig Ziering notes that sulforaphane is also found in vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower, and that it does indeed have a positive effect on patients with genetic hair-loss conditions.
“The conversion from testosterone to DHT, which binds to receptors and creates follicular miniaturization, is accepted as the key theory behind AGA hair loss,” says Dr. Ziering. “Continuing with the fact that androgen-sensitive hair will miniaturize with the conversion of testosterone to DHT, blocking that conversion or upregulating our natural inhibitor function could support, delay or lessen progression of AGA.”
