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L-LYSINE AND THE TREATMENT OF HAIR LOSS
US Patent 6136860
Applicant: Bio-Scientific Ltd., London,
UK
"Studies involving the administration according to the present invention
of L-lysine to those suffering from increased hair shedding show a remarkable
increase in scalp hair growth." "Typically, the L-lysine is
administered in a daily dose of from 200 to 2000 mg, and more usually in
a daily dose of 500 to 1500 mg, e.g. in the form of a 500 mg dose administered
orally once, twice or three times a day. L-lysine may conveniently be administered
orally, for example as tablets, capsules."
"We have also discovered that
administration
of lysine to patients results in a
dramatic
increase in the efficacy of known treatments
for genetic hair loss (which term covers
a number of conditions variously referred
to as androgen-dependent alopecia,
androgenic
alopecia, androgenetic alopecia, common
baldness,
female baldness, diffuse hair loss
and male
pattern baldness)."
"Thus, in a further aspect of
the present
invention there is provided a kit including
a plurality of separate containers,
each
containing at least one active agent
useful
in a combination therapy for the treatment
of genetic hair loss, wherein said
kit includes
L-lysine and at least one further active
agent selected from minoxidil, anti-androgens,
5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors, aromatase
inhibitors."
"The co-administration of L-lysine
with
known treatments for genetic hair loss
such
as minoxidil and anti-androgens results
in
a significant improvement in the efficacy
of the treatment."
Treatment of Women Suffering from Genetic
Hair Loss.
"The effect of the administration
of
lysine on the efficacy of known treatments
for genetic hair loss was investigated
as
follows."
"Women suffering from genetic
hair loss,
all of whom had adequate iron stores
within
the normal range at the start of the
test
(i.e. serum ferritin levels of greater
than
40 mg/ml) were divided into four groups"
"The first group (17 women) was
treated
with minoxidil only (in the form of
a topical
formulation comprising 3% minoxidil
by weight)."
"The second group (15 women) had
a combined
treatment of minoxidil (again as a
topical
formulation comprising 3% minoxidil
by weight)
and an oral anti-androgen chosen from
cyproterone
acetate, medroxyprogesterone and spironolactone.
The first two anti-androgens were administered
in combination with ethinylestradiol
or an
oral contraceptive. The particular
anti-androgen
administered was chosen on the basis
of clinical
need."
"The third group (8 women) received
a combined treatment of minoxidil (again
as a topical formulation comprising
3% minoxidil
by weight) and 500 to 1500 mg per day
of
L-lysine (administered orally)."
"The fourth group (13 women) received
a combined treatment comprising minoxidil
(again as a topical formulation comprising
3% minoxidil by weight), an oral anti-androgen
(administeredas to the second group
above)
and 500 to 1500 mg per day of L-lysine
(administered
orally)."
"The results in Table 5 suggest
that
the co-administration of L-lysine to
patients
being treated for genetic hair loss
with
known treatments such as the topical
administration
of minoxidil and/or the oral administration
of anti-androgens results in a considerable
improvement in the efficacy of these
known
treatments."
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