Can Endurance Training Halt Further Hair Loss?

[wookster]

http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1998102712.shtml

Some studies, usually of distance runners involved in the sport for 1 to 15 years, have found that male athletes have testosterone levels at 60% to 85% the levels of men the same age who are not involved in endurance training, according to the review of research conducted by Hackney, who is at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Some research has found a decrease in testosterone in as little as 1 to 6 months of training, while others found no decrease after 2 to 3 months of training. However, it is not clear if the drop in testosterone is detrimental to health, and in fact, may be beneficial.

"Currently, there is little evidence to suggest that the development of low resting testosterone levels in men doing endurance training has any major detrimental effect on the testosterone-dependent physiological processes of the body," according to the report.

"Some researchers indicate that lowering testosterone may have cardiovascular protective effects and decrease the risk of coronary heart disease," Hackney writes.

A German study found that lowering testosterone with drugs increased blood levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, although it is not clear if this occurs in those who exercise their way to lower testosterone levels.

 

[RAKBS]

I notice that my hair gets really inflammed whenever I start doing cardio, and to a lesser extent when I'm lifting weights. But interestingly this exercise-induced inflammation only affects parts of my hair that otherwise were not getting inflammed, if that makes sense.

Exercise increases HGH, which I think may be beneficial for hair (conflicting evidence is everywhere), and SHBG. All in all I think exercising is infinitely healthier than not, but just an observation.

 

[hawks05]

Lowering Testosterone will only hurt you, you need high test but low conversion to dht and no estrogen

 

[chino20]

Lowering Testosterone will only hurt you, you need high test but low conversion to dht and no estrogen

What a load of bollocks. Lowering testosterone will 'only' hurt you? And where did that pearl of wisdom come from?

 

[wookster]

This article says that endurance training INCREASES ...DHT.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569299_4

This randomized, controlled clinical trial showed that a 12-month moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise intervention increased circulating DHT levels among exercisers versus controls at 3 and 12 months. Additionally, SHBG was significantly greater among exercisers versus controls at 3 months, although the continued elevation in SHBG at 12 months was only significant when compared with exercisers' baseline levels. Further, DHT and SHBG increased most substantially among exercisers who experienced the greatest change in cardiopulmonary fitness as measured by V ·O2max. We found no significant effects of this exercise intervention on testosterone, free testosterone, 3?-Diol-G, estradiol, or free estradiol.

[...]

Given the association of elevated androgens, particularly DHT, with increased prostate cancer risk,[9] the rise in DHT with exercise that occurred in our study might be of concern. However, one recent epidemiologic study has found that low DHT is associated with decreased prostate cancer survival among men with screening-detected cancer,[30] and, further, lower levels of intraprostatic DHT are associated with greater cancer aggressiveness.[43] Some researchers hypothesize that aromatization of testosterone to estrogen may play a key role in prostate carcinogenesis, and, because DHT cannot be aromatized to estrogen, its role may not be as critical to cancer pathogenesis.[9] In fact, increased DHT may actually mediate favorable metabolic effects. In bone, enzymes that glucuronidate sex steroids are associated with both higher levels of DHT and cortical bone size, at least among young men.[55] Further, low levels of DHT have been associated with ischemic heart disease mortality. Given the potential benefits of increased DHT, additional studies that corroborate our findings and that could explore mechanisms mediating the increase in DHT are warranted.

 

[RAKBS]

If SHBG also rose, then I don't think this would be an issue at all.

 

[michael barry]

what is your regimine these days wook?


Im trying cedarwood oil now as an anti-androgen..........I hope it comes out well. I'll know in three months.

 

[billythekid]

i recently started cardio and made some changes to my diet (eating 30 or so almonds / day), and my scalp just feels really itchy and inflammed.
i'm pretty sure it is due to the cardio.

i still plan to keep doing this though, maybe it will cease after a while.

to get rid of the itch, i apply a few drops of ecualyptus oil to my scalp while showering, leave it in for 5 mins. i think it works like menthol. has a cooling effect.

i am interested in trying cedarwood oil, but it's really expensive here in Australia for only a tiny amount of product, maybe i haven't found the best source.

since it's way cheaper i might just try 'Al'chemy Rosemary Shampoo' it has the following in it: Rosemary essential oil, Cedarwood and Certified Organic Lavender, Clove and Cardamon essential oils, Coconut glucoside.

seems like good ingredients for a shampoo

 

[ali777]

i'm not sure if this would be related, but I used to do 10km (6 miles) a day in 2006. I haven't noticed any effects on my hair, but I have a hairy body and when I sweat my body itches. I'm pretty sure it's my body hair that causes itchiness. I only get this effect if I sweat.

I'm thinking of shaving some of my body hair and starting my regime of 10 km again this summer. If I ever get to do it, I can report my results to you