Research Team at West Lake University, Zhejiang Province, China
"Healthy Adult Hair Growth Rate Slows by 18%"
An unexpected side effect of ‘intermittent fasting,’ known as a beneficial dietary therapy for metabolic diseases, has been newly revealed. It can inhibit hair growth and potentially cause hair loss.
On the 14th, Professor Bing Zhang’s team at West Lake University in Zhejiang Province, China, published experimental results in the scientific journal ‘Cell’ showing that mice undergoing intermittent fasting had improved metabolic health compared to mice with 24-hour food access, but their hair growth slowed down. In a small clinical trial involving humans, although the effect was less pronounced than in mice, hair growth was also found to be inhibited. This is because reactive oxygen species accumulated through intermittent fasting induce apoptosis in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). However, since humans have different hair growth patterns from mice, the degree of this effect was not as significant in humans.
The research team noted that “previous studies have shown that fasting can enhance the stress resistance of stem cells related to blood, intestines, and muscle tissues beyond metabolic benefits, but its effects on peripheral tissues such as skin and hair have been scarcely studied,” which prompted this research.
The researchers divided mice with shaved fur into three groups: one group underwent intermittent fasting with 8 hours of feeding and 16 hours of fasting daily; another group fasted every other day; and the remaining group (AL) had 24-hour access to food.
Results showed that the control group mice with unrestricted food access regrew most of their fur after 30 days, whereas the intermittent fasting groups (8-16 hour fasting and alternate-day fasting) only partially regrew fur after 96 days. In an experiment involving 49 healthy young adults, the hair growth rate in the intermittent fasting group was 18% slower compared to the control group.
The research team emphasized, “Humans differ significantly from mice in metabolic rate and hair growth patterns, so the effects of intermittent fasting may vary greatly. While we do not want to discourage intermittent fasting due to its many beneficial effects, it is important to recognize that unintended effects may occur.”
Intermittent fasting is known to be effective for metabolic diseases such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. In particular, obese individuals showed a greater reduction in fatty liver through intermittent calorie restriction diets compared to non-obese individuals, and it has been confirmed by various studies to be effective for weight loss.
This diet method is practiced by famous figures such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, entrepreneur Elon Musk, actress Jennifer Aniston, Kim In-kwon, Kim Sang-joong, and Rain. Initially regarded as a kind of folk remedy or trend, intermittent fasting has gradually gained scientific support as research on the effects of fasting on the body continues to grow.
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