Abstract
: Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common, non-scarring hair loss condition characterized by excessive shedding due to disruptions in the hair growth cycle. It is often triggered by stress, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies and is often associated with impaired quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel once-a-day drinkable food supplement in women experiencing TE.
: A monocentric, open-label, single-arm pilot study was conducted, enrolling 37 female subjects aged 20 to 45 years with self-perceived hair shedding and diagnosed with TE. Subjects refrained from using products with similar effects throughout the study. Evaluations included hair density, hair shedding, anagen to catagen/telogen (A:C/T) ratio, and self-perception after 1, 3, and 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed using Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMMs) and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
: At 1, 3, and 6 months, a statistically significant increase in hair density compared to baseline was observed under the regimen of the tested product. After 6 months, this translated into a 12% increase vs. baseline (
< 0.001). Hair shedding decreased significantly from baseline to each subsequent visit, with a 28% reduction in shedding after 6 months (
< 0.05). The A:C/T ratio significantly increased after both 3 and 6 months, from 3.39:1 to 6.96:1 (
< 0.001). Self-perception questionnaires indicated high satisfaction with hair improvements.
: This single-arm pilot study suggests that the novel, drinkable food supplement improves hair density and hair shedding in women experiencing TE and underscores the potential of supplement intervention for managing female hair thinning, mainly by reducing TE through increased density of growing hairs. Whilst these preliminary results are encouraging, we recognize that a larger, placebo-controlled, blinded, randomized trial using the product is necessary to corroborate these findings and further explore the underlying hair cycle effects.