The vitamin D receptor has many roles in the body beyond managing calcium, affecting the immune system, hair growth, muscles, fat, bone marrow, and cancer cells.
5 citations
,
July 1994 in “PubMed” Finasteride, when taken daily, lowers dihydrotestosterone levels but doesn't noticeably affect adrenal steroid production, except by blocking the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme.
61 citations
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December 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Steroid sulfatase in hair follicles may be a target for treating hair loss.
9 citations
,
March 2018 in “International journal of molecular sciences” Allopregnanolone changes gene expression in glioblastoma cells.
28 citations
,
March 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Genetic marker rs12558842 strongly linked to male hair loss.
50 citations
,
March 2017 in “PeerJ” Using finasteride or dutasteride may cause long-lasting erectile dysfunction.
June 2001 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology” Finasteride improves hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.
26 citations
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June 2005 in “Journal of Molecular Endocrinology” Dutasteride is more efficient than finasteride, but individual results vary.
14 citations
,
November 2014 in “European journal of medicinal chemistry” Researchers found new potential treatments for conditions related to the androgen receptor, like male hormonal contraception, by testing thousands of compounds.
January 2026 in “Open Science Framework” Oral and topical 5-alpha reductase inhibitors affect DHT levels and hair density differently in treating hair loss.
4 citations
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February 2015 in “Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis” A genetic variant in the androgen receptor gene increases heart disease risk in women but not in men.
22 citations
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February 2002 in “Planta Medica” Compounds from Angelica koreana roots, especially osthenol, could be effective for treating conditions like prostate disease and hair loss.
September 2018 in “Journal of Experimental & Biomedical Sciences” DK peptides can reduce hair loss by inhibiting the 5α-reductase enzyme and have antioxidant effects.
6 citations
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June 2022 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine” Tamsulosin with Serenoa repens is as effective as with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors but causes fewer side effects.
5 citations
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January 2017 in “Endocrinology” Genetic defects in testosterone production can cause hormonal and developmental disorders, and more research is needed to understand androgen regulation and develop safer treatments.
June 2018 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride helps female-pattern hair loss.
January 2008 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” Finasteride may cause sexual and psychological side effects by affecting an enzyme related to epinephrine.
44 citations
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January 2012 in “Food and chemical toxicology” Ursolic acid can shrink the prostate and lower a hormone linked to prostate growth in rats.
May 2021 in “Journal of the Endocrine Society” A woman's hair loss and other symptoms were due to a rare hormone deficiency treatable with steroids.
7 citations
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August 2010 in “Medicinal Chemistry Research” Some synthesized compounds were more effective than Finasteride in reducing prostate cancer cell growth and androgen levels.
1 citations
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September 2019 in “Steroids” Two new mutations in the AR gene linked to severe androgen insensitivity were found.
September 2025 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss in women doesn't increase cancer risk.
November 2023 in “Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews” Trazodone might help reverse post finasteride syndrome.
25 citations
,
June 2002 in “Steroids” 4-azasteroids, including finasteride, can inhibit 5α-reductase, helping treat conditions like enlarged prostate and hair loss.
6 citations
,
October 1993 in “Endocrinology” Finasteride blocks progesterone production in specific tumor cells, potentially causing side effects.
17 citations
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May 1998 in “Steroids” Researchers developed a model to predict how well certain compounds can block an enzyme related to hair loss and prostate issues, suggesting a 50 mg dose of finasteride might be effective based on lab and body data.
The paper suggests that a decrease in estrogen receptor activity may cause sexual dysfunction syndromes and proposes hormonal treatments.
January 2006 in “Benzina: Revista d'excepcions culturals” Trienones are more effective at inhibiting the enzyme linked to hair loss than dienones.
59 citations
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January 2005 in “Endocrine Journal” Sex steroids influence skin appendage function and neoplasm development, with changes in AR and ERalpha in certain gland neoplasms.
October 2004 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Men with hair loss don't necessarily have higher levels of the hormone DHEA-S, but this hormone tends to decrease with age.