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  4. Vol 5, Issue 3, 2025

Oral Spermidine Supplementation Prolongs Hair Follicle Anagen Phase with Sustained Effects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

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DOI: 10.23977/phpm.2025.050307 | Downloads: 2 | Views: 12

Author(s)

Nurfarih Hanna 1, Mohd Zarif Fikri Bin Mohd 1, Muhammad Nabil Fikri Bin Mohd 1, Nurfarazuna Binti Mohd Fadrol 1

Affiliation(s)

1 Fni Group Sdn. Bhd. Guaramda County, Kedah Prefecture, 08000, Malaysia

Corresponding Author

Nurfarih Hanna

ABSTRACT

Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine, has demonstrated anagen-prolonging effects in laboratory and animal studies, but human efficacy remained unexplored until now. Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 100 healthy participants receiving either spermidine supplement or placebo daily for 90 days. At baseline (T0) and three months (T1), 100 hair follicles were plucked from each participant for microscopic evaluation of anagen V-VI phase follicles, along with immunohistochemical quantification of Ki-67 (proliferation marker) and c-Kit (apoptosis marker). Pull tests assessed hair loss at T0, T1, and six months (T2). Results showed that spermidine significantly increased anagen V-VI follicles (mean +12.8±6.87, 52% increase) while placebo decreased them (-5.3±2.3, 20% reduction; p<0.0001). The treatment group exhibited increased Ki-67 (+12.69±8.1) and decreased c-Kit (-2.16±1.24), with opposite changes in placebo (p<0.0001). At T2, three months post-treatment, all spermidine subjects maintained negative pull tests versus 68% positive in placebo (p<0.0001). These findings demonstrate that oral spermidine supplementation effectively prolongs the hair follicle anagen phase with sustained effects persisting three months after discontinuation, suggesting significant therapeutic potential for hair loss disorders, though further studies in specific clinical conditions are warranted.

KEYWORDS

Hair Follicle, Polyamines, Spermidine, Anagen Phase, Hair Growth, Randomized Clinical Trial, Ki-67, c-Kit, Telogen Effluvium

CITE THIS PAPER

Nurfarih Hanna, Mohd Zarif Fikri Bin Mohd, Muhammad Nabil Fikri Bin Mohd, Nurfarazuna Binti Mohd Fadrol, Oral Spermidine Supplementation Prolongs Hair Follicle Anagen Phase with Sustained Effects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. MEDS Public Health and Preventive Medicine (2025) Vol. 5: 39-50. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/phpm.2025.050307.

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