Does Zinc Sulphate Have Value as a DHT Blocker?

A reader asked about zinc as a valuable DHT blocker. When the question was asked, I did not know the answer. He researched the subject and found this interesting article. This is a study of skin (no live patient) which suggests value, but any meaningful data must be in a controlled study of humans where safety and effectiveness are focused. Considering that the article is dated 1988, I suspect the research didn’t go anywhere. I love when BaldingBlog readers challenge me, because such inquisitiveness only helps us all.

British Journal of Dermatology (1988) 119, 627-632.
Inhibition of 5a-reductase activity in human skin by zinc and azelaic acid
D. STAMATIADIS, MARIE-CLAIRE BULTEAU-PORTOIS AND IRENE MOWSZOWICZ
Laboratoire de Biochimie B, Hopital Necker-Enfants-Malades, Paris, France

SUMMARY
The effects of zinc sulphate and azelaic acid on 5a-reductase activity in human skin were studied using an in vitro assay with 1,2[3H]-testosterone as substrate. When added at concentrations of 3 or 9 mmol/l, zinc was a potent inhibitor of 5 a-reductase activity. At high concentrations, zinc could completely inhibit the enzyme activity. Azelaic acid was also a potent inhibitor of 5a-reductase; inhibition was detectable at concentrations as low as 0.2 mmol/l and was complete at 3 mmol/l. An additive effect of the two inhibitors was observed. Vitamin B6 potentiated the inhibitory effect of zinc, but not of azelaic acid, suggesting that two different mechanisms are involved. When the three substances were added together at very low concentrations which had been shown to be ineffective alone, 90% inhibition of 5 a-reductase activity was obtained. If this inhibition is confirmed in vivo, zinc sulphate combined with azelaic acid could be an effective agent in the treatment of androgen related pathology of human skin.