**2. Materials and methods**

In this study, 97 women and 40 men, ages 20-55 y., with AA were selected for the determination of TE content and CP in serum, hormonal status. Diagnosis of AA was based on clinical findings, pattern of increased hair thinning on frontal/vertex scalp with greater hair density on occipital scalp zone; retention of frontal hairline; and the presence of miniaturized hairs (vellus hair, diameter less 30 µkm). Detailed study of the consumption of drugs, iron intake and thyroid metabolism ruled out other types of alopecia. The degree of AA was determined

**Figure 2.** The timing of the hair cycle

scalp area compared to the frontal scalp and it has been diminished in AA [4]. Some researchers found that estradiol inhibited 5 alpha-reductase activities [5]. The effects on estrogens might be explained by an increased conversion of T to the weaker androgens such as androstendione and androstendiol. Progesterone is able to modulate activity of DHT in dermal papilla by 75% [4, 6]. Also, progesterone is widely recognized as a marker of estrogen action and has antiinflammatory properties. Progesterone regulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases

However, in women hair loss is not limited to only this location and combined with diffuse alopecia. Except in some cases, treatment of 5 alpha reductase inhibitors is ineffective in women. The origin and mechanisms of AA in women are different and more complicated than

The aim of the work was to estimate a possible role of trace elements (TE) changes in AA in

In this study, 97 women and 40 men, ages 20-55 y., with AA were selected for the determination of TE content and CP in serum, hormonal status. Diagnosis of AA was based on clinical findings, pattern of increased hair thinning on frontal/vertex scalp with greater hair density on occipital scalp zone; retention of frontal hairline; and the presence of miniaturized hairs (vellus hair, diameter less 30 µkm). Detailed study of the consumption of drugs, iron intake and thyroid metabolism ruled out other types of alopecia. The degree of AA was determined

(MMPs) by transforming growth factor-β [7].

338 Pharmacology and Nutritional Intervention in the Treatment of Disease

in men and remain a challenge.

**2. Materials and methods**

man and women.

**Figure 1.** The hair shaft

by application of Ludwig scales (II–III). Exclusion criteria were: replacement hormone therapy (RHT) with estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, L-thyroxin or corticoids during last 6 months. Women's group was divided by 5 subgroups: women with excess of androgens, ages before 40 and after 40 y.o. (22 and 19 correspondently), women with excess of estrogens before and after 40 y.o. (24 and 17) and women with obesity at age of 20-40 year (16 patients). Women had both AA and the other sings of elevated androgens level (hirsutism and acne) were included in group with excess of androgens (HA 1 and 2). Women in group with excess of estrogens had endometriosis, uterine leiomyoma or combining both of these (HE 1 and 2). Childbearing aged women with abdominal obesity (waist >88 cm.) and excess of ALT con‐ centration in blood were enrolled in group with obesity (O1). Control group included in agematched men and women (76 and 32 patients correspondently) who presented no diseases at the time of examine. The concentration of TE has been analyzed by ICP mass-spectrometer Nexion-300D and Elan-9000 (Perkin Elmer Corp., USA). Reference materials of serum and hair samples were used. The level of FSH (follicle-stimulated hormone), LT (leuteotpophic), 17βestradiol (E2), progesterone (PR), prolactin, androstendione (A), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sex hormone bound globulin (SHPG) was tested by routine laboratory methods.

Statistical analyses were performed with the ANOVA software (Statistics version 7). We applied non parametrical statistics: median, 25 and 75 percentiles. Student's t-test was used to compare the values of quantitative variables. Correlations among variables were studied using the Pearson's coefficient. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant in all analyses.

**Element**

As

Ca

Co

Cu

Fe

K

Mg

Mn

Mo

Ni

Se

Zn

Cu/Mn

Cu/Zn

different diseases.

**HA1 n=22**

0,017 (0,007-0,031)

95,8 (91,5-98,0)

0,0006 (0,0005-0,0007)

> 0,81\* (0,72-0,89)

> > 1,3 (1,1-1,7)

183 (164-204)

20,4 (19,1-21,8)

0,0033 (0,0027-0,0040)

0,0009 (0,0007-0,0013)

0,006 (0,005-0,007)

0,15 (0,13-0,16)

0,93 (0,82-1,05)

239 (187-306)

0,82\* (0,73-1,06)

\*-P<0,005 (differences between control group and others)

**HA2 n=19**

0,020 (0,008-0,031)

101,1 (89,3-104,0)

0,0005 (0,0004-0,0007)

> 0,85\* (0,80-0,91)

> > 1,2 (1,1-1,4)

193 (169-291)

20,9 (20,1-22,1)

0,0035 (0,0030-0,0039)

0,0007 (0,0005-0,0010)

0,006 (0,005-0,007)

0,14 (0,14-0,16)

0,85 (0,75-1,07)

245 (213-277)

1,01 (0,76-1,14)

**O1 n=24**

0,016 (0,006-0,038)

91,3 (87,2-97,5)

0,0006 (0,0004-0,0008)

> 0,94 (0,81-1,08)

> > 1,2 (0,8-1,6)

183 (165-194)

19,6 (18,4-21,4)

0,0031 (0,0026-0,0034)

0,0009 (0,0006-0,0011)

0,006 (0,004-0,007)

0,15 (0,13-0,16)

0,70\* (0,66-0,76)

319 (278-369)

1,31\* (1,22-1,40)

**Table 2.** TE content and ratio Cu/Mn and Cu/Zn (Median, 25-75th percentiles) in women with AA and associated with

When we separated women with AA into subgroups there have obtained differences between control and investigated groups. No significant differences were found between AA patients and control in the majority of TE content in serum. Although the lowest Cu content was

\*\*-P<0, 05 (differences between groups with excess of androgens (HA1) and estrogens (HE 1 or 2)).

**HE1 n=17**

0,014 (0,006-0,023)

97,8 (87,1-100,5)

0,0007 (0,0005-0,0008)

> 0,97\*\* (0,86-1,19)

> > 1,3 (0,4-1,5)

195 (175-234)

20,5 (18,7-22,3)

0,0030 (0,0027-0,0035)

0,0008 (0,0006-0,0009)

0,005 (0,005-0,006)

0,14 (0,12-0,16)

0,89 (0,80-0,95)

336\*\* (300-438)

1,12 (1,04-1,25)

**HE2 n=16**

Copper Deficiency a New Reason of Androgenetic Alopecia?

0,012 (0,007-0,031)

93,5 (91,7-97,1)

0,0007 (0,0005-0,0010)

> 0,99\*\* (0,89-1,21)

> > 1,1 (0,6-1,4)

170 (153-190)

19,6 (18,1-20,5)

0,0033 (0,0027-0,0036)

0,0007 (0,0007-0,0008)

0,005 (0,004-0,006)

0,14 (0,13-0,15)

0,79 (0,69-1,19)

349\*\* (282-420)

1,12 (0,82-1,50) **Control n=76**

341

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58416

0,020 (0,010-0,032)

95,3 (89,6-103,3)

0,0006 (0,0005-0,0008)

> 0,99 (0,90-1,11)

> > 1,2 (0,8-1,5)

178 (157-204)

20,8 (19,4-22,4)

0,0032 (0,0026-0,0043)

0,0010 (0,0008-0,0014)

0,006 (0,005-0,008)

0,14 (0,13-0,16)

0,83 (0,69-1,06)

288 (253-370)

1,22 (0,94-1,42)
