Name Ingredients:
Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in energy production and the metabolism of fats, drugs, and steroids. In hair loss treatments, it is believed to help maintain healthy hair, potentially improving hair strength and reducing hair loss.
Key insights:
- A phosphorylated derivative of riboflavin, riboflavin 5′- phosphate, was observed to inhibit dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced protein expression of the androgen receptor and downregulated DHT-induced mRNA expression of androgen-related genes in both 22Rv1 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines.
- There were two clinical studies conducted for a hair booster serum that contained riboflavin for patients with androgenic alopecia. In each study, there was a significant improvement in hair loss outcomes (density, hair pull, growth rate, and global photographic assessment score). However, because there were a number of other ingredients included in the serum, it is not possible to know if any positive effects were due to the presence of riboflavin.
- Our experience tracking members: Riboflavin by itself is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links:
- Vitamin B2: Evidence Quality (Rubric)
- Antiandrogenic activity of Riboflavin 5'-phosphate (FMN) in 22Rv1 and LNCaP human prostate cancer cell lines
- The Efficacy and Safety of Dr. SKS Hair Booster Serum (a Cocktail of Micronutrients and Multivitamins) in Adult Males and Females With Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label, Non-randomized, Prospective Study