Finally, some good news for balding men. a receding hair line may just be good for you according to U.S. researchers who have found that men who lose their hair by age 30 seem less likely to develop prostate cancer.
The results of the work suggest that having high levels of testosterone (the hormone blamed for baldness) from a young age might protect against cancer of the prostate.
The work was a population based, case control study that involved 2,000 men between the ages of 40 and 47, half of whom had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The team compared the rate of tumors in the subjects who reported their hair had thinned by 30 with those who didn't lose their hair at this age. Men who had started their thirties with bald spots on top or receding hairlines had a 29-45% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.
Earlier work has been inconclusive in terms of a link between male pattern baldness and cancer of the prostate. Some had suggested that bald men are more likely to get prostate cancer, which makes the new finding quite interesting. the work certainly shed some light on how the hormone behaves in the body. It is possible that both prostate cancer and male pattern baldness are problems that are influenced by the male sex hormone.
Baldness comes when hair follicles are exposed to too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a chemical produced by testosterone. Those who have high levels of this hormone are more likely to lose their hair, even more so if baldness runs in the family.
Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in men of all ages. no one knows what causes this form of cancer that starts in the small, walnut sized structure that's part of the male reproductive system.
Previous research has shown a link between high fat diets and increased testosterone levels. the good news is that as a result of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are found before they cause any symptoms.
Interestingly, prostate cancer patients are often given medications to reduce their testosterone levels. if these hormone levels are too high they are thought to accelerate the growth of certain tumors once they've developed.
The research does have limitations. the biggest of which is that the men were relied upon to remember what their hair looked like at least ten years before, and there were no photos to confirm their receding hair line. More work is sure to come.
Why a Receding Hair Line is Good News
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