Men who drink a minimum of one soda a day have the next probability of suffering hair loss early, in line with a recent study. 

Researchers reported of their study published within the journal Nutrients the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and male pattern baldness in young men. 

Male pattern hair loss (MPHL) has develop into a world public health issue lately. Nonetheless, the incidence rate of the condition has significantly increased while the onset of it has decreased. 

Meanwhile, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has develop into prevalent in young populations. Since there are limited studies on the connection between sugary drinks and MPHL, the researchers opted to concentrate on the association between the 2. 

The team sought to research the link between the consumption of sugary drinks and male pattern hair loss in men. They conducted a cross-sectional study from January to April 2022 in mainland China, recruiting young people aged 18-45 from 31 provinces to participate. 

Among the many 1,028 participants in the ultimate stage of knowledge evaluation, the group found that top consumption of soda and sugary beverages increased the chance of baldness in young men. 

Several sociodemographic aspects were considered for the study, including hair status, dietary intake, lifestyle, and psychological aspects. 

“The biochemical symptoms of androgenetic alopecia within the scalp are highly suggestive of an overactive polyol pathway,” the team wrote of their findings. 

Explaining how the sugary drinks caused the condition, the researchers said the polyol pathway gets activated by higher serum glucose concentration brought on by the sweetened beverages. When this happens, the quantity of glucose within the outer root sheath keratinocytes of hair follicles depletes, resulting in MPHL. 

In line with the Cleveland Clinic, men typically lose their hair by age 50, with 25% of them experiencing the earliest signs of hair loss before 21 years old. 

With sodas becoming a standard component of the Western weight-reduction plan, it’s very likely for more men to lose their hair early. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 63% of adults aged 18 and above drink a minimum of one sugary beverage a day. 

Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that the team was not capable of clinically diagnose the MPHL of the participants since they only conducted surveys. Further investigation is required to totally examine and establish the association between sugary drinks and male baldness.