Wake up and smell the coffee

The humble cup of coffee has sparked interest in a potential new approach to preventing male pattern hair loss (MPHL). A small laboratory study, reported in the International Journal of Dermatology, showed that caffeine could have the potential to stimulate hair growth.

In the study, hair follicles were extracted from 14 men in the early stages of hair loss and placed in test tubes with solutions containing different levels of caffeine. At the end of the study, caffeine had boosted the length of hairs by between 33 and 40%.

Unfortunately, while this initial research showed that caffeine may be a promising candidate to stimulate hair growth, enjoying a couple of extra cups of coffee will not have the desired effect – scientists have estimated that men would have to drink about 60 cups a day for significant amounts of caffeine to reach follicles in the scalp!

Fischer TW, Hipler UC, Elsner P. Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles. Int J Dermatol 2007; 46(1): 27-35
Downloaded from http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.03119.x
Last accessed 29.1.07

Hagan P. Coffee could hold the cure for baldness. Daily Mail 29 Jan 2007.
Downloaded from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/dietfitness.htmlin_article_id=430669&in_page_id=1798
Last accessed 29.1.07

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