The Role of Amino Acids Therapy in Combating Male Hair Loss

Are you starting to notice hair loss when you look in the mirror in the morning?  Are you worrying that your receding hairline is starting to make you look older?  Well, you’re not alone because about 40% of men in their 30s start to notice hair loss and the number jumps to 53% of all forty-year-old men who notice thinner hair.   About 1/5 of the male population will notice hair thinning and loss as early as their twenties because while hair thinning and loss can occur with age, genetic male pattern baldness can start at any age.

Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormonal causes, medical reasons, or by normal aging.  Hair loss is more common in men than women.  Even though there are products out there promoting certain vitamins or amino acids as a miracle fix to reverse hair loss, the data is still not there to support the claims of many of these products.  Two science-based products that are successful for suffers of male-pattern baldness are finasteride and minoxidil.

The best way to have healthy hair and skin is to eat a diet that contains a variety of fresh foods.  The relationship between the amino acids is complex; so, it’s best to try to not just focus on the structural proteins needed for healthy hair.  The four most important amino acids necessary to produce the structural protein keratin are arginine, cysteine, lysine, and methionine.  Collagen, another structural protein needed for healthy hair, needs glycine, lysine, methionine, and proline.  However, all of these proteins work best when all the other proteins or amino acids are present in the body in the proper amounts.  There is testing available for amino acid, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies.

Amino acids are called the building blocks of proteins because they are the molecules that all living things need for the body to produce protein.  We need twenty particular amino acids in order for our bodies to function properly.  The body makes eleven of the necessary amino acids.  The other nine are called the essential amino acids, and we get them in the foods we eat.

 

What are the roles of the amino acids?

  • Break down food
  • Grow and repair body tissue
  • Make hormones and brain chemicals (neurotransmitters)
  • Provide an energy source
  • Maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails
  • Build muscle
  • Boost the immune system
  • Sustain a normal digestive system

What are the essential Amino Acids?

  • Phenylalanine plays an integral role in the production, structure, and function of other amino acids. This amino acid turns into the neurotransmitters–tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
  • Valine helps with energy production, muscle growth, and muscle regeneration.
  • Threonine is an important part of structural proteins, like collagen and elastin. It plays an important role in skin and connective tissue and in immune function and fat metabolism.
  • Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, mood and sleep.
  • Methionine is necessary for tissue growth, the absorption of zinc and selenium and for metabolism and detoxification.
  • Leucine is vital for protein synthesis and muscle repair.  It also produces growth hormone, regulates blood sugar, and stimulates wound healing.
  • Isoleucine is heavily concentrated in muscle tissue and is part of muscle metabolism. It is also important to energy regulation, hemoglobin production, and immune protection.
  • Lysine plays a vital role. It helps with calcium absorption, protein synthesis, energy production, and immune function and is essential to the production of hormones, enzymes, collagen, and elastin.
  • Histidine maintains the protective sheath of myelin that surrounds the nerve cells. It also produces histamine, a neurotransmitter needed for immune response, sexual and digestive function, and sleep-regulation.

What are the non-essential amino acids?

Non-essential are made by the body but are also found in our diet and food.  They are just as important to our bodies as the others.

  • Alanine helps metabolize and clear toxins from the body.
  • Asparagine for healthy brain cells and central nervous system support.
  • Aspartic Acid produces other amino acids and essential enzymes.
  • Arginine boosts nitric oxide for better blood pressure and blood flow.
  • Cysteine stimulates collagen production and makes the antioxidant glutathione.
  • Glutamic Acid provides energy for the brain and keeps ammonia levels in check.
  • Glutamine is for digestion, cognitive function, and immune health.
  • Glycine heals wounds and aids in movement, vision, and hearing.
  • Proline repairs tissues and re-generates skin.
  • Serine for muscle metabolism, fat burning, immune health and positive mood.
  • Tyrosine helps alleviate depression, hypertension, and chronic pain.

 

How do I ensure I am getting all of the essential amino acids?

All of the essential amino acids are available with a varied diet of healthy foods.  Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. The foods that are complete proteins are meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.  Soy and pea protein are plant based complete proteins.  While other plant proteins, such as nuts, beans, and certain grains are not complete proteins, they can be combined together to make a complete protein.  Combine legumes and whole grains such as rice and beans, lentils and barley, or peanut butter on 100% wheat bread.

 

How can Androgenix Help?

If you want to live your best life, the medical practitioners at Androgenix are here to help. If you have any questions about amino acids and any possible deficiencies due to diet, stress, or life situations, please contact us with your questions.   If you are concerned about how to ensure you are giving your body what it needs to be at its best or have any other concerns about any areas of your health, please contact our office and make an appointment with our staff to get a complete blood work-up and a complete physical examination. Our staff of caring healthcare practitioners are here to answer your questions and develop an appropriate treatment plan for you.  You will be monitored by our team for treatment effectiveness and side effects of any recommended treatment on a regular basis.   Our team at Androgenix is always here to support your journey to a better, healthier, and happier you.

 

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*Unless otherwise stated, individual results may vary depending on many factors not all patients “feel” or achieve the same results.