Powerful Sugar Gel Stimulates Remarkable Regrowth

Earlier this year, researchers made a significant discovery regarding a potential treatment for hereditary-patterned baldness, the most prevalent form of hair loss affecting both men and women globally. This investigation commenced with an exploration of a naturally occurring sugar within the body that aids in DNA formation, known as ‘deoxyribose‘.

In their pursuit to understand how these sugars facilitate wound healing in murine models, scientists from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan observed an accelerated regrowth of fur around injured areas compared to untreated counterparts.

Intrigued by these findings, the research team sought to delve deeper.

In a study released in June, male mice subjected to testosterone-induced hair loss had their back fur removed. Each day, the researchers applied a small quantity of deoxyribose sugar gel to the exposed skin, resulting in remarkable fur regrowth characterized by long and thick individual hairs within weeks.

The efficacy of the deoxyribose gel was noteworthy, as it matched the performance of minoxidil, a widely utilized topical treatment for hair loss branded as Rogaine.

Sheila MacNeil, a tissue engineer at the University of Sheffield, remarked, “Our findings suggest that enhancing blood supply to hair follicles using deoxyribose sugar could prove effective in stimulating hair growth.”

Hereditary-patterned baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is primarily dictated by genetics, hormonal fluctuations, and aging, with varying presentations in different genders.

This condition affects up to 40 percent of individuals, and yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sanctioned only two treatments for this persistent issue.

Though minoxidil is available over-the-counter and can effectively decelerate hair loss and promote limited regrowth, it is not universally beneficial. For those who find minoxidil ineffective, an alternative is finasteride (Propecia), a prescription medication that aids in maintaining testosterone levels, albeit not yet approved for women.

Finasteride has shown to slow hair loss in approximately 80 to 90 percent of male patients, although it requires consistent use and may be associated with significant adverse effects, including erectile dysfunction and mood alterations.

“Addressing androgenetic alopecia remains a formidable challenge,” MacNeil and her research colleague Muhammad Anjum from COMSATS articulated in their published article.

The collaboration yielded a biodegradable, non-toxic gel composed of deoxyribose, which was systematically applied to rodent subjects modeling male-pattern baldness.

Comparative assessments included minoxidil and a combination treatment of the sugar gel and minoxidil; results demonstrated that deoxyribose significantly stimulated the emergence of new hair follicles.

Both treatments facilitated an 80 to 90 percent regrowth rate among the mice, although the combined therapy did not yield substantially improved outcomes.

Throughout the 20-day experiment, photographs chronically documented the pronounced effects.

While the precise mechanisms behind the deoxyribose gel’s promotion of more robust hair growth remain unclear, researchers observed a proliferation of both blood vessels and skin cells around the application sites.

“A more efficient blood supply to the hair bulb correlates with increased follicle size and enhanced hair growth,” the researchers stated.

If the efficacy of the deoxyribose gel is confirmed in human studies, it could pave the way for innovative treatments for alopecia, as well as rebirth of hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows post-chemotherapy.

The authors advocate for further exploration, noting, “This domain remains woefully underexplored, necessitating novel approaches.”

The current trials were confined to male subjects, yet future studies may investigate the potential application of these natural sugars for treating female models facing testosterone-induced alopecia.

MacNeil concluded, “Our research is in its infancy, yet the promising results underscore the need for comprehensive study.”

The findings were published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.

Note: An earlier iteration of this article originally appeared in July 2024.