In a discovery that's sprouting new hope for the hair loss industry, scientists have found that a naturally occurring sugar in the human body could be the key to combating male pattern baldness.
You probably won’t have heard of it, but 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) is a sugar that plays a fundamental role in various biological processes both in animals and humans. Now, scientists have identified 2dDR as a potential game-changer in hair loss treatment.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, found that treatment using the natural sugar could be as effective as current solutions approved by the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration), but without some of the negative side effects.
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“Male pattern baldness is such a common condition, affecting men all over the world, but at the moment there are only two FDA-licensed drugs to treat it,” said study co-author Prof Sheila MacNeil.
“Our research suggests that the answer to treating hair loss might be as simple as using a naturally occurring deoxy ribose sugar to boost the blood supply to the hair follicles to encourage hair growth.”
The discovery came about accidentally during a study on wound healing when the team noticed accelerated hair growth around areas with 2dDR. They then hypothesised that it could be having a direct positive impact on hair follicles in the treated region.
The team tested their theory on mice, comparing the effects of 2dDR gel to minoxidil, one of the few FDA-approved hair loss treatments currently available. Minoxidil is the pharmacological component of treatments like Rogaine and Theroxidil.
The results were impressive: the 2dDR treatment proved to be 80 to 90 per cent as effective as minoxidil in promoting hair regrowth.
What makes this discovery particularly exciting is its potential to offer a safer, more accessible alternative to existing treatments. Minoxidil, while effective, can cause side effects such as scalp irritation and is not suitable for everyone.
In contrast, 2dDR is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies, which could mean fewer side effects and broader applicability.
“This pro-angiogenic deoxy ribose sugar is naturally occurring, inexpensive and stable and we have shown it can be delivered from a variety of carrier gels or dressings,” explained Prof Muhammed Yar, another co-author of the research.
The science behind this sugar compound's effectiveness lies in its ability to stimulate blood vessel growth, the authors said, which is crucial for healthy hair follicles. By increasing blood flow to the scalp, 2dDR may help revitalise dormant hair follicles and promote new growth.
MacNeil added, “The research we have done is very much early stage, but the results are promising and warrant further investigation”.
Setting their sites beyond male pattern baldness, the researchers believe this treatment could potentially help those suffering from chemotherapy-induced hair loss, offering hope to cancer patients undergoing treatment.
However, experts caution that more research is needed before 2dDR-based treatments become available to the public.
Dr Claire Higgins, a tissue regeneration researcher at Imperial College London who is independent of the study, told BBC Science Focus: “Their theory stems from the urban legend that increased blood flow promotes hair growth.
“Minoxidil, which is used to treat male pattern baldness can promote blood flow, however, it also has other effects in the skin and hair – and the link between blood flow and hair growth has not been conclusively demonstrated.”
Still, Higgins maintained that the results were promising, and 2dDR clearly promoted hair growth and blood flow in the mice.
“I’d want to see the effect on human hair growth, bulb size and hair shaft thickness before I got too excited about the results though,” she concluded.
For the millions of men affected by hair loss, this research offers a glimmer of hope – an affordable, non-invasive and natural treatment that works.
“This could offer another approach to treating this condition which can affect men’s self-image and confidence,” MacNeil said.
About our experts
Sheila MacNeil is an emeritus professor of tissue engineering with expertise in tissue engineering of soft tissues (skin, oral mucosa, urethra and cornea) with a focus on translating research to the clinic. She has over 550 peer-reviewed articles.
Muhammad Yar is serving as an associate professor for the Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus. His areas of interest include tissue-engineered skin for full-thickness burn patients, smart anti-bacterial wound dressings, controlled and targeted drug delivery and drug development.
Claire Higgins is a lecturer in the reader in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and principal investigator in her own research group in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London. Her research group focuses on skin and hair follicles, wound repair and regeneration.
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