A study in the Chinese journal Nutrients found a link between consumption of sugary drinks and the development of baldness in men.
Male pattern baldness (MPHL) has historically been assessed on sleep duration, anxiety, genetics, age, and body mass index (BMI).
However, according to new medical research, increased amounts of added sugar in the Western diet are also associated with MPHL, especially when the population consumes more sugar-sweetened beverages such as juices. Or an energy drink.
A cross-sectional study conducted in mainland China from January to April 2022 spanned a total of 1,951 men aged 18–45 years from 31 provinces and collected data using a self-reported online survey.
The association between sugary drink consumption/frequency and MPHL was studied along with sociodemographic factors, hair condition, dietary intake, lifestyle, and psychological factors.
Looking at the findings, the scientists observed a significant association between consumption of sugary beverages and MPHL, stating, “The biochemical symptoms of androgenetic alopecia of the scalp are associated with excessive suggesting a polyol pathway.”
According to scientists, high sugar content in sugary drinks leads to high serum glucose levels, which in turn activates the polyol pathway, reducing the amount of glucose available to the outer root sheath keratinocytes of the hair follicle, Leads to MPHL.
The data revealed that high sugar intake was associated with high fat intake, and MPHL was found to be caused by a high-fat diet. This phenomenon was also observed in animal experiments with mice. Nevertheless, the association between sugary drinks and his MPHL was still “significant.”
Details of this study further showed that chronic disease and emotional factors may be highly associated with consumption of sugary drinks and MPHL and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). .
Because MPHL in research studies has not been clinically diagnosed, investigators should fully examine the link for future analyses, to determine if the results of the study have only a suggestive effect and to determine more precise data. I have struggled to outline the need for more research and collation of evidence for this.