Name Ingredients:
Turmeric is a common spice derived from the root of Curcuma longa. It’s believed to have many properties, including as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant, and regulates blood pressure amongst other things. Turmeric contains a high concentration of a type of compound called curcuminoids. ~95% of the make-up of turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin has been used as a component of hair loss supplements.
Key insights:
- Evidence in vitro shows that curcumin can decrease dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels – which may indicate a potentially positive effect for patients with androgenetic alopecia – however, this was completed in a pancreatic cancer cell line and so may not be the same in non-cancerous cells. In keratinocyte cells treated with dihydrotestosterone, it was found that curcumin treatment reduced levels of the marker known to induce entry into the transitional (catagen) stage of the hair follicle (TGF-ꞵ1)- indicating a potential for curcumin to prolong the growing stage (anagen).
- Evidence in vivo (in mice) suggests that topical curcumin treatment can induce the entrance of the hair follicle into the growing (anagen) stage of the hair cycle from the resting (telogen) stage. However, it could not completely reduce the hair loss.
- Clinical evidence shows that an oral supplement containing curcumin may benefit hair growth. However, this product also contains many other ingredients, so the hair growth benefit may not necessarily be due to the curcumin.
- Our experience tracking members: Curcumin by itself is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links:
- Curcumin: Evidence Quality (Rubric)
- Modulation of AKR1C2 by curcumin decreases testosterone production in prostate cancer
- A Six-Month, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of a Nutraceutical Supplement for Promoting Hair Growth in Women With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair