Name Ingredients:
Equol is a chemical compound that is produced by the action of intestinal bacteria on the soy isoflavone daidzen. Only about 20-60% of people have the ability to produce equol from soy. Equol has some similar effects to the female hormone estrogen. This compound is thought to help control processes associated with aging like decreased hair density, thinning, and graying in postmenopausal women.
Key insights:
- The in vitro evidence suggests that Equol might have anti-androgenic and extracellular matrix-enhancing properties that could benefit hair health and prevent hair loss.
- The in vivo (in animal) evidence has found that injection with equol (52% S-isomer, 48% R-isomer) for 25 consecutive days led to a significant decrease in 5α-dihydrotestosterone levels.
- The only available clinical evidence involved applying a liposomal formulation containing Equol, among other ingredients, to the scalps of 30 men and 30 women with AGA.
- The study found that daily application significantly increased hair counts in women and marginally increased hair counts in men.
- A significant increase in anagen hair and a significant decrease in telogen hair were observed in male patients starting at 3 months and in female patients starting at 1 month.
- However, because this product used a number of other ingredients that might affect hair growth, we cannot say for certain what effect Equol had.
- Our experience tracking members: Equol alone is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links:
- Equol: Evidence Quality (Rubric)
- A liposome-based formulation containing equol, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and propionyl-l-carnitine to prevent and treat hair loss: A prospective investigation
- Equol an isoflavonoid: potential for improved prostate health, in vitro and in vivoevidence
- Antiaging effects of equol: A unique antiandrogenic isoflavone metabolite and its influence in stimulating collagen deposition in human dermal monolayer fibroblasts