Ann Dermatol.  2016 Aug;28(4):438-443. 10.5021/ad.2016.28.4.438.

Efficacy of a Complex of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine Peptide on Hair Growth

• Lee WJ
• Sim HB
• Jang YH
• Lee SJ
• Kim DW
• Yim SH

• KMID: 2344813
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.4.438

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pattern hair loss is a very common problem. Although effective therapeutics for the treatment of pattern hair loss have been used, novel therapeutic modalities are still required to enhance hair growth.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the efficacy and safety of a complex (ALAVAX) of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) peptide for the treatment of pattern hair loss.
METHODS
Forty-five patients with male pattern hair loss were treated with ALAVAX 100 mg/ml (group A), ALAVAX 50 mg/ml (group B) or placebo (group C) once a day for 6 months. Total hair count, hair length, hair thickness, patient's assessment and adverse events were evaluated at month 1, 3, and 6.
RESULTS
An increase in hair count for 6 months was 52.6 (p<0.05) in group A, 71.5 (p<0.05) in group B, and 9.6 in group C. The ratio of changes in hair count between group B (2.38) and group C (1.21) at 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The proportion above good satisfaction was higher in group A (26.7%) than in the other groups (group B: 14.3%, group C: 7.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in hair length and hair thickness among 3 groups at 6 months. There was no adverse event in 3 groups.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed that a complex of 5-ALA and GHK peptide may be considered as one of the complementary agents for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.

Keyword

5-aminolevulinic acid; Glycyl-histidyl-lysine peptide; Pattern hair loss

MeSH Terms

Hair*
Humans
Male

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The structure of ALAVAX composed of 5-aminolevulinic acid and glycyl-histidyl-lysine peptide.

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  Fig. 2 Hair count. (A) An increase in hair count for 6 months was 52.6 in group A (*p<0.05), 71.5 in group B (*p<0.05), and 9.6 in group C. (B) The ratio of changes in hair count between group B (n=2.38) and group C (n=1.21) only at 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (*p<0.05).

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  Fig. 3 Hair length. There was no statistically significant difference among 3 groups at each visit.

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  Fig. 4 Hair thickness. (A) There was no statistically significant difference in hair thickness between baseline and each visit at each group. (B) There was no statistically significant difference in the change of hair thickness among 3 groups at 6 months.

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  Fig. 5 Patient's satisfaction. The proportion of good and excellent satisfaction was higher in the group A than in the other groups.

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