If you are a man who is concerned about hair loss, the solution may be to stop drinking soda. A new study, according to Nancy Schimelpfening, suggests a link between soda consumption and male pattern hair loss. According to the authors, even one soda per day could be harmful. However, experts say that hair loss is caused by a variety of factors. Whatever effect sugar has on hair loss, nutritionists say cutting sugar can help you stay healthy.
According to a study by William Cranwell and colleagues, male pattern hair loss (MPHL) is the most common type of hair loss in men, affecting 30-50% of men by the age of 50. Recent research suggests that the prevalence of MPHL is rising. According to Annie Lennon of Medical News Today, researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, recently investigated the link between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and MPHL. They discovered that higher SSB consumption correlates with an increased risk of MPHL.
Dr. Ken L. Williams Jr., D.O., FISHRS, ABHRS, surgeon, and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, CA, and author of Hair Transplant 360 - Follicular Unit Extraction, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today. "Traditionally, most physicians or hair restoration surgeons understand that nutrients and diet play a critical role in our patient’s overall health and well-being," Dr. Williams said. "Exercise, abstaining from tobacco and illicit drugs, good nutrition, and a balanced diet are critical to our patient’s health and longevity."
According to Annie Lennon, they also discovered that people with MPHL ate more deep-fried foods, sugar and honey, sweets and ice cream, and ate fewer vegetables than those who did not have the condition. People with MPHL also consumed 4.3 liters of sugar-sweetened beverages per week on average, compared to 2.5 liters for those without the condition. They also discovered that disease history influenced the link between SSB consumption and MPHL. They also discovered a link between SSB intake frequency and anxiety disorder, as well as anxiety disorder and MPHL. The researchers noted that the link between SSB consumption and MPHL persisted after controlling for potential confounders such as sociodemographic factors, dietary intake, and psychological status.
When asked how SSB consumption may influence MPHL, Dr. Ai Zhao, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University, one of the study’s authors, told MNT that increased sugar consumption raises blood sugar levels, which activates polyol pathways, which convert glucose to other sugars. Dr. Zhao also mentioned that previous research has linked excessive sugar consumption to mental health issues. According to one meta-analysis, those who consume the equivalent of three cans of cola per day have a 25% higher risk of depression than those who do not consume sugary beverages.
Nonetheless, your diet has a significant impact on your overall health. While it is unclear what role sugar consumption may play in preventing hair loss, Shereen Jegtvig, a nutrition professor at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, believes that eating and drinking less sugar is an important part of staying healthy. She claims that eliminating empty calories with little or no nutritional value, such as sugary soft drinks and energy drinks, can improve your health in a variety of ways. Jegtvig also mentioned that swapping out sugary sodas and energy drinks for non-caloric versions or just plain water is one way to reduce your sugar intake.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Drinking sugary beverages linked to hair loss in men
By Annie Lennon on January 13, 2023 — Fact checked by Ferdinand Lali, Ph.D.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sugary-soda-drinks-male-pattern-hair-loss-men#:~:text=Researchers%20examined%20the%20link%20between,of%20those%20without%20the%20condition.
2. Can Drinking 1 Soda a Day Really Increase Your Risk of Hair Loss?
By Nancy Schimelpfening, MS on January 10, 2023 — Fact checked by Dana K. Cassell
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-drinking-1-soda-a-day-really-increase-your-risk-of-hair-loss
3. Male Androgenetic Alopecia
William Cranwell, MBBS(Hons), BMedSc(Hons), and Rodney Sinclair, MBBS, MD, FACD.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/#:~:text=Male%20androgenetic%20alopecia%20(MAA)%20is,vertex%20and%20mid%20frontal%20scalp.
