Treatment of Hair Thinning and Hair Ageing with Specific Lectican and Leucine Proteoglycans. A review

Abstract

Research evidence accumulated during the last 20 years on the function and cycling of the hair follicle has demonstrated that certain specific proteoglycans play a central role. Specifically versican and decorin are integral components in this connection. Various extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors can disturb the delicate balance of specific proteoglycans in the follicle. It is documented that age and stress, among others, can disrupt this balance, and in turn, normal hair follicle function. A decline in structural components, such as several keratins or a shift of apoptotic parameters is often seen in this connection. Supplementation with bioactive substances can counteract the extrinsic or intrinsic factors and lead to normal hair follicle function. Per-oral OTC supplements containing specific proteoglycans, a fractionated fish extract with specific lectican and leucine proteoglycans, provide the body and the hair
follicles with the crucial and specific bioavailable components needed for normal functioning. With the results from earlier scientific research on the importance of specific versican and decorin, combined with results from clinical studies using marine extract demonstrating significant reduction of hair loss and improvement in re-growth, important deductions can be made. There is a well-founded scientific basis for recommending proteoglycan replacement therapy as baseline treatment* with subjects suffering from hair loss problems and/or hair growth disorders, as it has been shown that proteoglycan levels decline within the hair follicle both with age and whilst experiencing stress. In conclusion, supplementation containing marine extract can revitalise dysfunctional follicles and open a new era on nutritional factors influencing hair loss and/or hair growth. In addition to the positive effect on hair growth, it is hypothesised that there may be a positive effect with the use of supplementation containing marine extract on hair greying. Theoretically, this is possible, and clinical work we have conducted supports this theory.