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Last week I posted this thread
https://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/intera...uivalent-of-polycystic-ovary-syndrome.100576/
where I showed that the strongest correlate in the literature for male pattern baldness are serum levels of SHBG, sex-hormone binding globulin. Lower levels of SHBG correspond to greater male pattern baldness, it's a much steeper correlation than with testosterone, for example.
I got some blood test results this morning, where everything (including SHBG) went well except testosterone. The testosterone probably went badly because I stopped weightlifting six weeks ago due to an injury.
Anyway:
my SHBG was 20 nmol/Litre in July 2015, when I weighed ~100 Kg.
my SHBG was 24 nmol/Litre in May 2016, when I weighed ~90 Kg.
my SHBG was 32 nmol/Litre in August 2016, when I weighed ~85 Kg.
Between May and June, I got a paraumbilical hernia which made me stop weightlifting, so I've done a lot of fasting to compensate. If I can't gain muscle, I'll at least lose fat, though fasting has other impacts. Among other things it's known that fasting is one of the few methods to increase SHBG, you can find a thread on it here:
https://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/intera...g-our-shbg-sexhormone-binding-globulin.46147/
Both fasting and calorie restriction increase SHBG, probably for the same reason?
Youtube, etc has many anecdotal reports of intermittent fasting and/or long-term fasting helping with alopecia, and acne for that matter. There's no robust clinical study on the issue right now, and there probably won't be any for a while. Regardless, I think this is worth considering.
1) We know that low levels of SHBG are very tightly correlated with male pattern baldness, though the mechanism is unknown and correlation does not prove causation.
2) We know that fasting elevates SHBG.
3) My blood tests are good confirmation that fasting elevates SHBG.
4) There are anecdotal reports of fasting improving hair.
I think this is sufficient to be considered a legitimate component to an experimental/alternative/supplementary protocol.
https://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/intera...uivalent-of-polycystic-ovary-syndrome.100576/
where I showed that the strongest correlate in the literature for male pattern baldness are serum levels of SHBG, sex-hormone binding globulin. Lower levels of SHBG correspond to greater male pattern baldness, it's a much steeper correlation than with testosterone, for example.
I got some blood test results this morning, where everything (including SHBG) went well except testosterone. The testosterone probably went badly because I stopped weightlifting six weeks ago due to an injury.
Anyway:
my SHBG was 20 nmol/Litre in July 2015, when I weighed ~100 Kg.
my SHBG was 24 nmol/Litre in May 2016, when I weighed ~90 Kg.
my SHBG was 32 nmol/Litre in August 2016, when I weighed ~85 Kg.
Between May and June, I got a paraumbilical hernia which made me stop weightlifting, so I've done a lot of fasting to compensate. If I can't gain muscle, I'll at least lose fat, though fasting has other impacts. Among other things it's known that fasting is one of the few methods to increase SHBG, you can find a thread on it here:
https://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/intera...g-our-shbg-sexhormone-binding-globulin.46147/
Both fasting and calorie restriction increase SHBG, probably for the same reason?
Youtube, etc has many anecdotal reports of intermittent fasting and/or long-term fasting helping with alopecia, and acne for that matter. There's no robust clinical study on the issue right now, and there probably won't be any for a while. Regardless, I think this is worth considering.
1) We know that low levels of SHBG are very tightly correlated with male pattern baldness, though the mechanism is unknown and correlation does not prove causation.
2) We know that fasting elevates SHBG.
3) My blood tests are good confirmation that fasting elevates SHBG.
4) There are anecdotal reports of fasting improving hair.
I think this is sufficient to be considered a legitimate component to an experimental/alternative/supplementary protocol.