in brief, what is Prokeratin® Advanced Hair Care System;
what is Saw Palmetto;
what is it used for;
why is it important for hair loss;
background information, medical studies, trials;
resources download
Prokeratin® Advanced Hair Care System is the commercial trade mark and the name of the hair care products that belong exclusively to Hair Clinics Cosmetics portfolio.
The active ingredient in these products, beta-sitosterol, is a natural-occurring element in Serenoa Repens fruits that inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase which plays a key role in the transformation of the hormone testosterone into 5-alpha-Dihydrotestosterone, also know as DHT.
The enzyme is present predominantly in the scalp and prostate.
To this form of hormonal by-product, the hair follicles are most sensitive and tend to
die-out in time.
This process is called male-pattern baldness or alopecia androgenetica.
Due to their balanced but concentrated formula, Prokeratin® Advanced Hair Care System
products are the trusted "weapon" of choice in adjuvant middles against the hair loss originating from hormonal problems, for thousands of people, men and women, around the world.
For detailed information about Prokeratin® Advanced Hair Care products, click here.
To purchase this product, please visit the Prokeratin® website www.prokeratin.com.
If you wish to become a certified reseller, check-out our Prokerasell reseller program here.
Saw Palmetto, the story - from prostate to hair follicles
In brief:
Saw Palmetto is an herbal treatment for symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) such as hesitancy, urgency, dribbling, increased frequency in urinating, and increased nighttime urination.
Saw Palmetto is comparable in effectiveness to conventional medication in the treatment of urinary symptoms associated with BPH.
Short term use of Saw Palmetto has fewer adverse effects than conventional medications for BPH.
The incidence of adverse effects from long term use of Saw Palmetto is unknown, and long term treatment is needed for BPH.
What is Saw Palmetto?
Saw Palmetto is an herbal supplement that has been around for a while and has gained increasing interest in the United States for alleviating urinary symptoms resulting from benign (not cancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Currently, such plant-derived treatment (phytotherapy) is more commonly used in European countries such as Germany and Austria. There, Saw Palmetto is the initial treatment of choice for mild-to-moderate urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (a term used synonymously with hypertrophy). Today, Saw Palmetto is also used in hair products designed to help against hair loss.
Where does Saw Palmetto come from?
The Saw Palmetto extract is derived from the dried, ripe berry of the American dwarf palm tree, Serenoa Repens (scientific name); Sabal Serrulata (botanical name). The main source of Saw Palmetto is the southeastern United States. With the enlarging reputation of Saw Palmetto, this plant now is grown commercially. Harvesting of Saw Palmetto berries is becoming a big industry with nearly 2000 tons of these berries being shipped to Europe for the herbal supplement market.
What are the conventional medical options for the treatment of BPH?
Currently, few doctors in the United States at this time recommend plant extracts for treatment of urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH. Instead, conventional drug therapies such as finasteride (Proscar) and several a-adrenergic blockers are favored in the U.S. Finasteride blocks the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to its more potent active state. Since the growth of the prostate is dependent on this potent form of testosterone, finasteride reduces prostatic growth by preventing this hormone's production. The other drugs used for BPH symptoms are called a-adrenergic blocking agents. The action of these drugs is based on the fact that the flow of urine depends not only on the size of the opening of the urinary passage (which may be reduced by an enlarged prostate) but also on the muscle tone of the prostate and the urinary bladder neck. By relaxing the muscle tone in these areas with a-adrenergic blocker drugs (such as prazosin, terazosin, and doxazosin), a better urine flow can be achieved, even without mechanically or surgically enlarging the urinary passage.
What is the evidence supporting the use of Saw Palmetto as a treatment for the prostate?
Of the approximately thirty plant-derived compounds that exist for alleviating the symptoms of BPH, the Saw Palmetto extract is the most widely used and studied. Most of the Saw Palmetto studies have been conducted in Europe.
Recently, a systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 2,939 men was published. The trials used either Saw Palmetto by itself or in combination with other herbal treatments.
The effectiveness of these agents was compared to a placebo (an inactive or inert substance) or one of the conventional drug therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The researchers looked at the following: (1) urinary symptoms such as hesitancy; (2) the number of times a night that a patient arose to urinate; (3) the average urine rate of flow; and (4) the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urinating.
Changes resulting from the use of this herbal agent in these four areas were compared to placebo results to determine if an improvement occurred in the patients' urinary symptoms or urinary flow. These researchers reported that there was 28% greater reduction in urinary symptoms in the group treated with Saw Palmetto than the group taking the placebo. Secondly, there was a 25% greater reduction in nighttime urination; for example, a treated patient might urinate three times nightly instead of four. Thirdly, the average improvement in urine flow rate was 28% with Saw Palmetto as compared with the placebo. Finally, there was 43% less urine remaining in the bladder after voiding with Saw Palmetto than with the placebo.
The systematic review of the clinical trials also showed that Saw Palmetto provided similar response as finasteride (Proscar) in terms of urine flow measures and urinary symptoms. A large, double-blind study (neither the patient nor the doctor knew which drug was used) involving 1,069 participants with moderate BPH was recently conducted with subjects treated with either Saw Palmetto or finasteride for six months. Similar efficacy was found between the two treatments in terms of self-rated quality-of-life scores and urinary symptom scores.
The symptom score improved by 37% with Saw Palmetto and by 39% with finasteride; and the quality-of-life score improved by 69% with Saw Palmetto and by 73% with finasteride. Thus, it appears that the Saw Palmetto extract is more effective than placebo, and the extract is similar in effectiveness to finasteride for symptoms of BPH.
What has all this to do with hair loss?
It has a lot to do with it.
Specialists in endocrinology found that several genes inherited from both parents play a role in androgenetic alopecia, and paternal hair loss has been shown to correlate with chances of alopecia in sons while variations in the Androgen Receptor gene (AR), which can correlate with baldness, are X linked and thus inherited from one's maternal grandfather or grandmother. Androgen receptors allow the body to respond appropriately to dihydrotestosterone and other androgens. Studies suggest that variations in the AR gene lead to increased activity of androgen receptors in hair follicles. It remains unclear, however, how these genetic changes increase the risk of patterned hair loss in men and women with androgenetic alopecia.
The inheritance pattern of androgenetic alopecia is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors are likely to be involved. This condition tends to cluster in families, however, and having a close relative with patterned hair loss appears to be a risk factor for developing the condition.
Hormone levels correlated with androgenetic alopecia
Men with androgenic alopecia typically have lower levels of total testosterone, higher levels of unbound/free testosterone, and higher levels of total free androgens including DHT.
The 5-alpha-reductase enzyme is responsible for converting free testosterone into DHT. The genes for 5-alpha-reductase are known. The enzymes are present predominantly in the scalp and prostate. Levels of 5-alpha-reductase are one factor in determining levels of DHT in the scalp and drugs which interfere with 5-alpha-reductase (such as finasteride, which inhibits the predominant type 2 isoform ) have been approved by the FDA as treatments for hair loss.
Sex hormone binding globulin, which is responsible for binding testosterone and preventing its bioavailability and conversion to DHT, is typically lower in individuals with high DHT. SHBG is downregulated by insulin.
Increased levels of Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) have been correlated to vertex balding. High insulin levels seem the likely link between metabolic syndrome and baldness. Low levels of SHBG in men and non-pregnant women are also correlated with glucose intolerance and diabetes risk, though this correlation disappears during pregnancy.
(Bibliography: NLM- Genetics Home Reference)
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a biologically active metabolite of the hormone testosterone, formed primarily in the prostate gland, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase by means of reducing the 4,5 double-bond. Dihydrotestosterone belongs to the class of compounds called androgens, also commonly called androgenic hormones or testoids. Androgens are part of the biology of gender by stimulating and controlling the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics. DHT is thought to be approximately 30 times more potent[citation needed] than testosterone because of increased affinity for the androgen receptor.
DHT is produced by males in utero and is responsible for the formation of male gender specific characteristics. DHT is also an important contributor to other characteristics generally attributed to males, including facial and body hair growth, and deepening of the voice. DHT has been shown to be deactivated in skeletal muscle through the actions of 3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and therefore does not have a significant effect on muscle hypertrophy.
The drugs belonging to the group known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are used for treatment of problems stemming from DHT. This group includes finasteride (sold under the names Proscar for BPH and Propecia for androgenic alopecia as well as in generic formulation) and dutasteride (sold under the name Avodart). Currently, DHT supplementation is not used as a treatment for DHT/androgen deficiency.
Alternative treatments used to inhibit DHT include dietary supplementation with, or topically administered preparations of, Saw Palmetto berry extractives, just like the ones Prokeratin contains.
Unlike most known 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, Saw Palmetto induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete PSA. Saw Palmetto extract has been demonstrated to inhibit both isoforms of 5-alpha-reductase unlike finasteride which only inhibits the (predominant) type 2 isoenzyme of 5-alpha-reductase.
Bibliography, sources & references:
The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2006 Mar;12(2):1999
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2002;(3):CD001423
JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association). 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1604-9
The Prostate, Medical Journal, 1998 Oct 1;37(2):77-83
The Endocrine Society,Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1997; vol.82; no. 5
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1996 July;58(4):377-84
British Journal of Nutrition 96 (6): 1053-9
Drugs&Aging. 1996 Nov;9(5):379-95
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 55: 3-4, 1995 Dec, 375-83
NLM- Genetics Home Reference
The Medical University of North Carolina, Faculty of Endocrinology Research Paper, May 2005
Pharmaceutical News Magazine, Aug 2001
The Botanical Newspaper, US, June 2002
Downloadable resources and medical materials:
Hair Loss Study Abstract: Testosterone metabolism in primary cultures of human prostate epithelial cells and fibroblasts
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Délos S; Carsol JL; Ghazarossian E; Raynaud JP; Martin PM
Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 55: 3-4, 1995 Dec, 375-83
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Prager N, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G
Source: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2006 Mar;12(2):1999
Effects of long-term treatment with Serenoa repens (Permixon) on the concentrations and regional distribution of androgens and epidermal growth factor in benign prostatic hyperplasia
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Di Silverio F, Monti S, Sciarra A, Varasano PA, Martini C, Lanzara S, D'Eramo G, Di Nicola S, Toscano V.
Source: The Prostate, Medical Journal, 1998 Oct 1;37(2):77-83
MK-386, an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase Type 1, reduces dihydrotestosterone concentrations in serum and sebum without affecting dihydrotestosterone concentrations in semen
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Jules I. Schwartz, Wesley K. Tanaka, Daniel Z. Wang, David L. Ebel,
Lori A. Geissler, Aimee Dallob, Barry Hafkin and Barry J. Gertz
Source: The Endocrine Society,Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1997; vol.82; no. 5
MK-386: a potent, selective inhibitor of the human type 1 5alpha-reductase
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Ellsworth K, Azzolina B, Baginsky W, Bull H, Chang B, Cimis G, Mitra S, Toney J, Bakshi RK, Rasmusson GR, Tolman RL, Harris GS
Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1996 Jul;58(4):377-84
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens - latin name; Sabal Serrulata - botanical name), background information
[download document: pdf file]
Author & Source : The botanical Newspaper US
Serenoa Repens (Permixon). A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy in benign prostatic hyperplasia
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Plosker GL, Brogden RN
Source: Drugs&Aging. 1996 Nov;9(5):379-95
Saw Palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, MacDonald R, Lau J, Mulrow C
Source: JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association). 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1604-9
Serenoa Repens : summary report
[download document: pdf file]
Author: EMEA European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products
Source: The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products EMEA/MRL/676/99-August 1999
Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Timothy J Wilt, Areef Ishani, Indulis Rutks and Roderick MacDonald
Source: Minneapolis VA Center for Chronic Diseases Outcomes Research, 1 Veterans Drive (111-0), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA
Serenoa Repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia
[download document: pdf file]
Author: Wilt T, Ishani A, Mac Donald R.
Source: General Internal Medicine (111-0), Minneapolis VA/VISN 13 Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, USA.
