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Does degree of baldness influence vitamin D status?
Mark J Bolland1, Ruth W Ames, Andrew B Grey
1Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. m.bolland@auckland.ac.nz
Objective:
To determine the association, if any, between male-pattern hair loss (baldness) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels.
Design And Participants:
A cross-sectional study of 296 healthy middle-aged and older men.
Main Outcome Measures:
Degree of baldness was independently assessed by two researchers using the Hamilton-Norwood scale and serum 25-OHD was measured in all men.
Results:
Classification of the degree of baldness by the two researchers showed a high level of agreement (kappa = 0.93). Forty-eight per cent of men had no hair loss or mild frontotemporal recession, 15% had predominant vertex loss, and 37% had significant scalp and vertex loss. After data were adjusted for potential confounding factors - including age, month of 25-OHD measurement, exercise levels, use of sunscreen, skin type and frequency of outdoor hat wearing - no significant differences in 25-OHD levels between these groups was detected (P = 0.60).
Conclusions:
The degree of baldness does not appear to influence serum 25-OHD levels. The high prevalence of baldness in older men does not explain sex differences in 25-OHD levels. Other novel hypotheses are required to help determine whether baldness serves any physiological purpose.
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