Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Androgenetic Alopecia: Insights from Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Thickness

According to a study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, the concomitance of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) may be associated with a high increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue and less favorable metabolic parameters.

Researchers aimed to investigate the potential association between AGA and MetS by examining the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the scalp. The study included 34 participants with AGA and MetS and 33 participants with AGA but without MetS. AGA was classified using the Hamilton-Norwood scale, whereas MetS was identified using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

The results revealed significant differences between the MetS+AGA group and the control group. The MetS+AGA group exhibited higher values in various parameters, including body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference. Moreover, the MetS+AGA group had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, as well as a greater occurrence of grade 6 alopecia compared with the control group. Additionally, individuals with MetS had thicker subcutaneous adipose tissue in the frontal scalp when compared with the control group.

“The subcutaneous adipose tissue in the frontal scalp was thicker in individuals with AGA who had high Hamilton scores,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Dayanan R, Bilen A, Çiftel S, et al. Increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the frontal scalp may be associated with androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndrome. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023;27(12):5748-5756. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202306_32813