The Effect of 24-week Dietary Intake of Food Supplements on Hair

Single centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, one-period effectiveness study to evaluate whether the daily use of novel dietary supplements over 24 weeks will strengthen and promote density and quality of hair in adults with self-perceived thinning hair.

Study population will be divided in three groups - 32 in active groups and 20 in placebo group. Test group 1 (TG1) will receive investigational product 1 (CPMSM: containing fish collagen, methylsulphonylmethane (MSM), vitamins and zinc), test group 2 (TG2) will receive investigational product 2 (HC+: containing mixture of herbal extracts, B-vitamins and zinc) and the placebo group (PG) will receive placebo product without any of the active ingredients (PL, no active ingredients). Participants will test continuous administration of placebo or investigational products (in the form of syrups) for 24 weeks in order to demonstrate and assess multiple-dose effects.

Inclusion criteria

• Caucasian volunteers of both sexes; aged 25-60 years at the time of the signature of Informed consent form (ICF).
• Darker (not blonde or grey) at least 5 cm long on midline.
• Signed Informed consent form (ICF).
• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV.
• Self-perceived hair thinning - subjects complaining of hair fall and damage.
• Derived Sinclair Scale score up to 3.
• In good general health condition.
• Subjects who are not crash dieting.
• Willingness to maintain using regular hair care routine regarding hair washing and styling, hair dye / hair colour during the study period.
• Willingness to refrain from any type of hair treatment like perming, permanent straightening etc. during the study duration.
• Willingness to not substantially change their lifestyle, current diet, medications, or exercise routines for the duration of the study.
• Willingness to refrain from any other topical treatment/hair spa and oral medications or supplement for hair growth during the study.
• BMI < 35
• Willingness to avoid a consumption of any other food supplements containing methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), antioxidants, collagen or other protein-based food supplements, Pea sprout extract, Horsetail extract, Ashwagandha root extract, Saw palmetto fruit extract, Nettle leaves extract, Grape seed extract, biotin, zinc, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folic acid during the study.
• Willingness to follow all study procedures and keeping a diary during the study (to follow their compliance and palatability).
• Willingness not to begin or change any estrogen or progesterone or other hormonal therapies.
• Willingness of subjects who have color treated hair to have the color treatment performed at the same time interval prior to each visit.
• No known or suspected allergy to any ingredient of the tested products as established by medical history.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding or planning pregnancy in near future (in next year).
• Menopausal female subjects as determined by medical history.
• Recent initiation or change (<6 months) of hormones for birth control or hormone replacement therapy in females or other hormonal therapies.
• Use of treatments for hair growth treatment including minoxidil, finasteride or light therapy within the last 3 months or other medications that are known to cause hair loss or affect hair growth (eg. Cyproterone acetate, Aldactone/spironolactone, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, phenytoin) within the last 6 months.
• Subjects with any clinically significant history of underlying uncontrolled medical illness including thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, severe anemia, serious disorder of heart and respiratory apparatus or any other serious medical illness.
• Changes in dietary habits and dietary supplementation in the last three months prior to inclusion.
• Veganism.
• Regular use of food supplements containing methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), collagen or other protein-based food supplements, Pea sprout extract, Horsetail extract, Ashwagandha root extract, Saw palmetto fruit extract, Nettle leaves extract, Grape seed extract, or vitamin or antioxidant supplements, which will compromise the study, in the last three months prior to inclusion.
• Subjects having any active scalp or skin disease which may interfere with the study treatment and evaluations.
• Subjects who have had hair transplant.
• Subjects undergoing any chemical hair salon treatment-straightening / perming.
• Subjects participating in other similar cosmetic or therapeutic trial within last year.
• Subjects who have experienced a known stressful event within the last 6 months such as death in family, miscarriage etc.
• Known history or recent blood work indicating iron deficiency, bleeding disorders or platelet dysfunction syndrome.
• Smokers with usage > 20 cigarettes/day.
• Changes in hair care routine in the last month prior to inclusion,
• Mental incapacity that precludes adequate understanding or cooperation.