Androgenic alopecia and insulin resistance: are they really related?

Summary Background. Androgenic alopecia is known to be androgen‐dependent. Insulin is found in hair follicles and may play a role in the regulation of androgen metabolism and the hair‐growth cycle. Objectives. To compare the insulin resistance between people with androgenic alopecia and a control group. Methods. A case–control study was conducted with 97 cases in the patient and 87 in the control group. Serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) were all measured in both groups. Results. There was no difference in serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and insulin resistance between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Despite previous reports suggesting a link, our study found no significant relationship between insulin resistance and androgenic alopecia. Further studies are warranted.