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Does creatine cause hair loss?
A couple of weeks ago I was approached by a reader asking about the credibility of the claims surrounding the link between hair loss and increase in DHT (Dihydrotestosterone – A form of testosterone) levels due to supplementation with creatine.
To be honest, that was the first time I heard of such claim which made me wonder where it came from all together. So back in 2009 a trial was conducted to explore the impact of supplementing college rugby players with creatine monohyrate for three weeks, more specifically on their production of testosterone. It was a double-blind trial performed on 20 players which meant that the athletes nor
their handlers knew whether they were getting creatine monohyrate or the alternative placebo. It was found that serum testosterone levels did not change. However, levels of DHT increased by 56% after 7 days of creatine loading and remained 40% above baseline after 14 days. The trial concluded that creatine MAY act partly through increased rate of conversion of T to DHT. It is worth noting that such increase failed to be of statistical significance.
And despite the association between increased testosterone levels and hair loss, it is concluded that due to the small statistical significance of the increase in testosterone levels it would be infeasible to attribute such consequence solely on creatine supplementation.
Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum) / Myth Busted!
