Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. SULT1A1 and Minoxidil Response
4.2. Melatonin as an AGA Treatment
4.3. Limitations
5. Conclusion
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Systematic Review Registration Statement
Appendix A
References
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Author and Year | Study Design | Treatment | Frequency of Use | Sample size at Baseline | Age, Standard Deviation ͳ) | Disease Severity (Mild, Moderate, Severe) † |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Olsen 1986 [30] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 19 | 35.4, 4 | 0%, 100%, 0% |
Control | 19 | 37, 6.3 | 0%, 100%, 0% | |||
Civatte 1987 [31] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 125 | 33.4 (18–49) | 0%, 48.15%, 51.85% |
Control | 122 | 34.8 (20–40) | 0%, 55.29%, 44.71% | |||
Anderson 1988 [32] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 77 | 32.8 (19–49) | 0%, 100%, 0% |
Control | 77 | 32.8 (19–49) | 0%, 100%, 0% | |||
Dutrée-Meulenberg 1988 [33] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 74 | 34.3 (19–49) | |
Control | 70 | 34.3 (19–49) | ||||
Petzoldt 1988 [34] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 101 | 32.9 (17–49) | |
Control | 100 | 32.9 (17–49) | ||||
Pierard-Franchimont 1998 [35] | prospective cohort | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 2 to 4 times weekly for 21 months | 4 | 0%, 100%, 0% | |
Ketoconazole 2% (topical) | 4 | 0%, 100%, 0% | ||||
Rushton 1998 [36] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 12 | 18–49 | |
Control | 12 | 18–49 | ||||
Takahashi 2005 [37] | randomized, double-blind | Procyanidin 0.7% (topical) | 2 mL twice daily | 25 | 47.62%, 52.38%, 0% | |
Control | 24 | 59.09%, 40.91%, 0% | ||||
Fischer 2012 [38] | single-arm | Melatonin (topical) | once daily | 35 | 18–41 | 100%, 0%, 0% |
Sakr 2013 [39] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 5% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 11 | 25–30 | |
Control | 10 | 25–30 | ||||
Panahi 2015 [40] | randomized, single-blind | Rosemary (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 50 | 24.78, 3.67 | 74%, 26%, 0% |
Minoxidil 2% (topical) | 50 | 23.38, 2.5 | 68%, 32%, 0% | |||
Ablon 2016 [41] | randomized, double-blind | Marine complex (oral) | one capsule per day | 30 | 42.8, 7.7 | |
Control | 30 | 46.1 | ||||
Wessagowit 2016 [42] | single-arm | Saw Palmetto (topical) | once daily | 100 | 20–50 | 0%, 70%, 30% |
Singh 2020 [43] | randomized, double-blind | Minoxidil 5% (topical) | 1 mL twice daily | 20 | 18–60 | |
Control | 20 | 18–60 | ||||
Hashimoto 2022 [44] | randomized, double-blind | Watercress 2% (topical) | twice daily | 23 | ||
Control | 23 |
Agent | Mechanism of action |
---|---|
Minoxidil | Vasodilator Reduce inflammation Activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway |
Melatonin | Activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory properties Anti-androgen properties |
Rosemary | Antioxidant Antibacterial Antifungal Anti-inflammatory properties |
Marine complex | Stimulate proliferation of dermal papilla cells |
Procyanidin | Reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation Encourage growth of hair epithelial cells |
Watercress | Modulate key signaling pathways (notably Wnt/β-catenin via RSPO1 and DKK1) Activating growth-promoting kinases Antioxidant property |
Ketoconazole | Anti-inflammatory Anti-androgen properties |
Saw Palmetto | Inhibition of 5-α-reductase enzyme |
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Gupta, A.K.; Talukder, M.; Keene, S.; Williams, G.; Bamimore, M.A. Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 7920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167920
Gupta AK, Talukder M, Keene S, Williams G, Bamimore MA. Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(16):7920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167920
Chicago/Turabian StyleGupta, Aditya K., Mesbah Talukder, Sharon Keene, Greg Williams, and Mary A. Bamimore. 2025. "Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 16: 7920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167920
APA StyleGupta, A. K., Talukder, M., Keene, S., Williams, G., & Bamimore, M. A. (2025). Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(16), 7920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167920