Link Between Male Pattern Baldness and the Prostate
Spanish researchers believe that baldness and an enlarged prostate are linked, with men with one of the conditions likely to develop the other.
At a meeting of the American Urological Association, the team said that men who were bald had prostates that were 34% larger than men who still had full heads of head. Furthermore, the men who were going bald experienced a urine flow that was 32% lower than those men with hair. Low urine flow is an early indicator of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The news will not come as a huge surprise to scientists, who have long suspected a link between BPH and male-pattern baldness. The most common cause of hair loss in men, male pattern baldness is called by overly high levels of a hormone known as 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme converts the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which in some men causes the hair follicle to shrink. 5-alpha-reductase is also associated with BPH, as DHT is known to play a key role in prostate growth.
Both male pattern baldness and BPH can be treated with the same drug, finasteride. Marketed as Propecia for baldness and Proscar for BPH, the drug inhibits the enzyme that encourages the conversation to DHT.
Propecia is one of the few treatments that has been proven to make a difference to male-pattern baldness and stop hair loss. A prescription medication, men have reported that long-term use has prevented further hair loss and even in some cases encouraged re-growth of hair.
It has also been associated with preventing prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Study examined a group of men aged over 55 to see whether finasteride reduced incidences of prostate cancer. In 2003, the trial was stopped early when it appeared that Propecia reduced prostate cancer rates by 25%.
The study was begun based on knowledge that prostate cancer is strongly affected by male hormones. Studies had previously shown that men with low levels of alpja-5-reductase due to an inherited deficiency do not develop prostate cancer, as they cannot convert testosterone to DHT.
This new study builds on the existent body of knowledge linking the prostate and male-pattern baldness. Hopefully, as we understand the two better, better treatments and earlier diagnosis will follow.
In a statement, Dr. Kevin McVary, spokesman for the Urology Association, said “BPH is a very treatable condition that can significantly impact quality of life if left unchecked. The study suggests that patients with [baldness] should talk with their doctors about any urinary symptoms they may be experiencing so that we can minimize this impact by taking preventative measures.”
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