http://mercola.com/2000/oct/22/baldness_insulin.htm
Early Baldness May Result From Insulin Resistance

There exists a proven association between male-pattern baldness and serious
cardiovascular events, but the mechanism of action is unknown.

Now, a new study has shown a strikingly increased risk of insulin
resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin-resistance-associated disorders in
men with early onset of male-pattern baldness (alopecia), supporting the
theory that early male-pattern baldness could be a clinical marker of
insulin resistance.


   a.. Researchers performed a practice-based case-control study on 154
subjects (aged 19-50 years) with early-onset male-pattern baldness (onset
prior to 35 years of age) and age-matched controls.

   b.. Men were only selected whose hair loss was significant, using an
accepted classification method.

   c.. Information on diagnoses of chronic diseases and data on current
medication, weight and height, fasting total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL
cholesterol, and blood glucose were collected.

   d.. Blood insulin levels were measured.
Researchers looked at the following insulin-resistance-associated risk
factors:


   a.. Elevated lipids (HDL cholesterol <0.9 mmol/L, triglycerides > 1.7
mmol/L, or lipid-lowering medication)

   b.. Abnormal glucose metabolism (fasting blood glucose > 6.7 mmol/L twice
or antidiabetic medication)

   c.. High body-mass index

   d.. Elevated systolic blood pressure (> 160 mm Hg).
A "cluster" was considered to be present if at least three of the four
variables were simultaneously positive.

The risks for the following were all found to be elevated for the alopecia
group:


   a.. Nearly 5 times more likely to have clustered risk factors

   b.. Hyperinsulinemia risk was increased nearly 2-fold

   c.. Moderate obesity was increased nearly 2-fold

   d.. Severe obesity was increased nearly 150%.

   e.. Use of cholesterol lowering medication was increased more than 4-fold

   f.. Use of blood pressure or diabetic medication was more than double
Researchers maintain that there findings ".raise the question whether
insulin resistance could be a pathophysiological mechanism or promoting
factor in early androgenetic alopecia, which could, in turn, be an early
marker of insulin resistance."

In addition, they suggest that men with early-onset male-pattern baldness
should be screened for insulin resistance and other cardiovascular disease
risk factors.

Lancet September 30, 2000; 356: 1165-1166.