If Exercise Increases Testosterone, Wouldn’t it Also Increase DHT and Hair Loss?
I noticed your recent post about protein powders and how they have no effect on DHT and hair loss. I’ve seen some posts on your site, but I feel that exercise and supplements (other than steroids which obviously impact hair loss) have not been adequately addressed.
For example, many studies indicate that creatine increases testosterone and DHT. Also, generally speaking, exercising increases testosterone levels. Therefore, wouldn’t exercise and working out increase DHT and therefore hair loss? Also, maybe we can get a more straight forward answer on certain common supplements such as Creatine and Glucosamine. Thanks
I do not believe that working out will increase hair loss, but the straight forward answer is that we don’t know for sure. If you search the web, many talk about creatine and how it may relate to increased DHT, and ultimately hair loss. I do not know of any well constructed, reliable, or definitive studies about it, though.
In the world of genetic male pattern hair loss, the keyword is genetic. I suppose there are extraneous things you can do or take (anabolic steroids – a drug/hormone – not a supplement) to make the genetic trait worse or accelerate it. But in the end, even if you don’t do anything, but you have the genes for it, you will lose hair.
If taking creatine or glucosamine or other supplements worries you, then consider not taking them. Prioritize your goals. If you are taking these supplements to enhance your workout and gain muscle etc, nothing beats actually working out (an extra day per week or an extra 10 minutes in the gym is better than any supplements in my personal opinion).
The increase in testosterone does not automatically equate to conversion levels to DHT. I’d assume this was mediated by the 5a reductase levels rather than overall testosterone levels (and more importantly the genetic suceptibility of the hair follicles). If it were a direct correlation we’d only have a majority of bald athletes.
There is one heavily disputed study on creatine and DHT that didn’t seem to have any control on the users other supplement/drug use and/or behavior. Creatine is present in meat and you are consuming large quantities on a typical athletes diet whether you use supplemental creatine or not.
Glucosamine is incorporated into joint linings and again you consume it in your diet from a variety of food sources.
Eating fats increases testosterone. If you starve yourself of essential fats and minerals you can cause an androgenic collapse – but being malnourished probably isn’t a great way to fight hairloss (considering malnutrition can lead to hairloss independently anyway).
A lot of people forget that steroids are often based on DHT itself so they don’t even need to be converted they will directly impact those with MPB. Of course if you don’t have MPB there’s no supplement or steroid that’s going to kick start baldness.
Excercise will in most cases have positive health benefits, including hair. It should increase the ‘feel good’ hormones and in turn reduce ‘stress’ hormones (cortisol). Low stress means hair will receive nutrients from your hopefully good diet, whereas stress will sap these. Excercise will also help all round blood circulation, helping the follicle to remain active.
I do agree with Paul in that if you are genetically predisposed to lose hair you will, as a father and son team at my workplace (both bald) will attest. However, with modern knowledge and nutrients, and lifestyle modififations, I strongly believe hat hair loss can be controlled. What I do is to keep the growth cycle going. Use whatever things you know to help and KEEP IT UP. The more you slack off, the more you will let genetics amd hormones win, and so stunt follicle activity. Regarding creatine, I noticed increased hair loss, but as Paul points out, it’s difficult to prove, so I just abstain. Good luck!