Sugar-sweetened beverages include soda, fruit-flavoured drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks (Image: Getty)
A recent study has found a link between a popular beverage type and hair loss. Male pattern hair loss (MPHL), which affects approximately 6.5 million men in the UK according to the latest NHS data, is the most common form of hair loss.
It usually starts with slight thinning of the hair, progressing to more noticeable hair loss and increased visibility of the scalp. Some men may even begin to notice this process in their late teens. Research suggests that nutrition plays a significant role in MPHL, with some studies indicating that the way our bodies process glucose could impact hair loss.
A team from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, explored the link between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and MPHL. Their research revealed that higher SSB consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing MPHL.
SSBs include any drinks with added sugars in various forms, such as brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose. Common examples include regular soda, fruit-flavoured drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened water, and coffee or tea with added sugar, reports Bristol Live.
Researchers from Tsinghua University found from the study that men suffering from MPHL tend to consume almost double the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages compared to those without the condition. While they stress this is a correlation rather than a direct cause, they are calling for further studies to confirm this link.
Sugary drinks may increase the risk of male pattern hair loss (Image: Getty)
The study involved 1,028 college students and teachers, averaging 27.8 years old, from across 31 provinces in China. Participants filled out a survey detailing their hair status, dietary intake, lifestyle, and psychological status.
SSB consumption was determined from responses to a beverage intake questionnaire the researchers created. The questionnaire examined the participants’ consumption of such beverages in the month prior. Up to 57.6% of participants reported MPHL, and the remaining didn’t. The researchers said that people with MPHL were more likely to:
- be current or former smokers
- dyed, permed, bleached, or relaxed hair
- have a shorter sleep duration
- have a positive family history of MPHL
- engage in less physical activity
- have a lower education level
- have MPHL-related conditions
- be older
- have experienced severe anxiety or PTSD
The researchers found that over half of the participants reported MPHL. Interestingly, those with MPHL typically consumed an average of 4.3 litres of sugar-sweetened drinks each week, compared to just 2.5 litres by those without the condition.
Additionally, individuals with MPHL were found to eat more deep-fried foods, sugar, honey, sweets, and ice cream, while consuming fewer vegetables.
The study’s conclusion states: “Reducing SSB consumption has become a thorny problem, puzzling governments and health institutions around the world. We have shown high SSB consumption in young Chinese people aged 18–45 years old, and those who consumed excessive SSB consumption had a higher likelihood of reporting MPHL.”
The researchers’ findings also highlighted a connection between SSB intake frequency and anxiety disorders, as well as between anxiety disorders and MPHL. They stressed that the link between SSB consumption and MPHL remained even after considering factors such as sociodemographic details, dietary habits, and psychological well-being.
The study found men who drank sugary drinks more than seven times a week were 3.36 times more likely to have male pattern hair loss (Image: Getty)
The study’s authors noted: “Anxiety disorder status and disease history might mediate the association between SSB consumption and MPHL.”
To tackle the issue, the researchers suggested that highlighting the potential negative impact of SSB consumption on appearance could grab the attention of young people and encourage them to reduce their intake. They called for further longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm the association and inform evidence-based health education.
Dr Ai Zhao, PhD, Assistant Professor of Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University and one of the authors of the study, spoke to Medical News Today about how increased sugar intake can raise blood sugar levels. This triggers a metabolic process known as polyol pathways, which convert glucose into other types of sugars.
Both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that this mechanism reduces glucose levels in the outer regions of hair follicles, potentially leading to Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL). Dr Zhao also highlighted that high sugar consumption often goes hand in hand with excessive fat intake, another factor linked to MPHL.
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She added that previous research has connected high sugar intake with mental health issues, but cautioned that their findings are based on self-reported data rather than clinical diagnoses.
Meanwhile, Dr George Cotsarelis, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director at the University of Pennsylvania Hair and Scalp Clinics, who was not involved in the study, expressed scepticism: “The study only shows a correlation between sugary drinks and baldness.”
He added, “I doubt this is a real correlation because it is hard to imagine how sugary drinks could impact baldness. Furthermore, among the men they studied, the bald group had a higher percentage of men with a family history of baldness.
“This means that the incidence of baldness would be higher in that group, so perhaps by chance, the sugary group had more men with baldness. I guess there is also a chance that the genes involved in baldness cause one to drink more sugary drinks. However, in general, I will not change the way I practice or the advice I give to patients based on this study.”
Dr Amir: Tips for dealing with hair loss
According to the NHS, losing one’s hair is not typically a cause for concern, but it can be distressing. They state: “Losing your hair is not usually anything to be worried about, but it can be upsetting. Treatment may help with some types of hair loss. It’s normal to lose hair. We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing.”
Although hair loss is usually nothing to be concerned about, it can occasionally be an indicator of an underlying medical issue. Certain types of hair loss, such as male and female pattern baldness, are permanent and frequently inherited.
Other types of hair loss may be temporary and caused by factors like illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss, or an iron deficiency.