41 citations
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March 1998 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” The enzyme that changes testosterone to a stronger form is mostly found in the part of the hair follicle called the dermal papilla.
12 citations
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March 1995 in “Journal of the American Chemical Society” Finasteride modifies 5-alpha-reductases through a two-step process, affecting inhibitor potency and possibly causing side effects.
71 citations
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November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire, sometimes lasting after stopping the drug.
66 citations
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April 2017 in “International Journal of Andrology” Men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors for enlarged prostate have a higher chance of experiencing reduced sexual desire and erectile dysfunction.
20 citations
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June 2007 in “Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery” Certain inhibitors can potentially treat prostate cancer and other hormone-dependent conditions by controlling sex hormone levels in cells.
5 citations
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August 2018 in “Sexual Medicine Reviews” 5α-Reductase inhibitors do not consistently increase testosterone levels in the blood.
2 citations
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December 2008 in “Journal of Chemical Crystallography” The research shows that hydrogen bonds greatly affect the crystal structure of a Finasteride derivative.
69 citations
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December 2011 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Some Thai plants, especially Carthamus tinctorius, could help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth without adverse effects.
11 citations
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January 2017 in “Journal of Endocrinology/Journal of endocrinology” Female mice with disrupted 5α-reductase 1 had significant metabolic issues, including stress response problems, insulin resistance, liver fat buildup, and obesity.
January 2017 in “Elsevier eBooks” Sex hormones affect reproduction, sexual development, and oral health, and it's important for dental practitioners to understand their effects and interactions.
402 citations
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August 2011 in “Cancer research” Prostate cancer cells can make their own androgens to activate the androgen receptor, and treatments like abiraterone may increase this ability, suggesting new therapies should target the entire steroid-making pathway.
451 citations
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March 2005 in “Endocrine Reviews” The enzyme steroid sulfatase is linked to breast cancer and other conditions, and inhibitors are being developed for treatment.
7 citations
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July 2018 in “Journal of Functional Biomaterials” A new anti-baldness patch effectively treats hair loss by blocking enzymes linked to the condition.
31 citations
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March 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Neuroactive steroids could become safe, effective treatments with more understanding of their complex brain actions and metabolism.
7 citations
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October 2017 in “The Prostate” Baldness in men with prostate cancer is linked to higher levels of certain sex hormones, but chest hair density is not.
25 citations
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November 2015 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Certain Chinese herbs, especially Cacumen platycladi, can promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss-related hormone levels in mice.
1 citations
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February 2024 in “Pharmacognosy Journal” Fenugreek seed extract boosts testosterone and improves male reproductive health without heart side effects.
35 citations
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June 2018 in “Urology” The review suggests younger men taking 1 mg finasteride report more side effects, including sexual, skin, metabolic, and psychological issues.
35 citations
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April 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors slightly increase the risk of sexual and mood side effects, and breast growth in men.
33 citations
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January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The document concludes that sexual and psychiatric side effects from 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are reported, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how often they occur.
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.
26 citations
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September 2018 in “Neurobiology of Disease” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce unwanted movements from Parkinson's disease treatment by normalizing certain brain signals.
May 2024 in “Scientific African” Three natural compounds from Ghanaian plants may help treat BPH and alopecia.
December 2025 in “Cureus” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss may increase the risk of dry eye disease.
123 citations
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December 2015 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” New targets for making and using brain-synthesized steroids could lead to better treatments for brain disorders and alcoholism.
16 citations
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January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” Green tea component EGCG may help prevent hair loss by changing microRNA levels in certain scalp cells.
19 citations
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April 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Dutasteride works better than finasteride for hair loss, with both being safe to use.
10 citations
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August 1998 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” The compounds tested could potentially treat hair loss and alopecia.
May 2026 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide helps hair regrowth in hair loss mice by affecting local steroid metabolism and hair follicle responses.
February 2026 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Genetics can help tailor treatments for male pattern hair loss, improving outcomes like stabilization or modest regrowth.