Relationship between female androgenetic alopecia and serum lipid levels

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a non-scarring alopecia which consists of miniaturization of the terminal hair under the influence of androgens. Some scholars have reported an association between AGA and coronary artery disease (CAD), probably due to alterations in CAD risk factors. However, this association is not supported by other studies, thus rendering the subject open to discussion. Methods: A total of 100 women were enrolled in this study: 50 diagnosed with AGA based on physical examination and 50 agematched controls. BMI as well as serum total cholesterol, highdensity lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and triglyceride were measured. Results: The mean BMI was 25.3±3.5 kg/m2 in the AGA group and 24.2±3.4 kg/m2 in the control group (P=0.11). The mean level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the AGA group was 141.7±55.4 mg/dl, 194.9±35.8 mg/dl, 41.1±12.3 mg/ dl, and 129.7±32.6 mg/dl, respectively. These figures showed no significant difference in the control group (P=0.10) Conclusion: It seems that a diagnosis of AGA in female patients is not linked to increased serum lipids.