Use of nutriceutic in telogen effluvium in women: results of a prospective clinical observation

Telogen effluvium (TE) is a hair cycle disorder that can develop through different scenarios of pathologic dynamics. Various types of triggers can cause the development of TE, the most common causes being physiologic, toxic, somatic, psychic, dietary and metabolic factors. Among the characteristics of this condition, the high prevalence and limited evidence-based knowledge are noteworthy, which can make the definition of approaches to the treatment of TE a therapeutic challenge. Objective — to determine the effectiveness of the nutraceutical product Alpenta in women with acute or chronic TE. Materials and methods. 30 patients with a diagnosis of TE were under observation, who received 1 capsule of the nutraceutic Alpenta per day for 12 weeks. To objectively assess changes in hair growth parameters, a phototrichogram study, evaluation of standardized photographs, a hair tension test, as well as using a questionnaire to assess objectively (by doctors) the TE and subjectively (by patients) the tolerability of the nutraceutical product Alpenta. Results and discussion. After 12 weeks of nutraceutic Alpenta usage, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean percentage of anagen hair from 73.1 to 84.8 %. The average terminal hair density increased by 13.6 % from baseline, and the average diameter of hair in the study area increased by 11.2 % (p < 0.05). Comparative macrophotographs showed clinical improvement in 84.3 % of patients, 15.7 % had acceptable cosmetic results. Subjective evaluation of the treatment results by the patients showed a decrease in hair loss in 83.3 %, improvement of hair appearance in 43.3 % of patients, increase in hair growth rate in 40 %. The effectiveness was evaluated by dynamics of TE symptomatology reduction at the end of the course of nutraceutic Alpenta usage as «very good» and «good» in 80 % of cases. Tolerability of nutraceutic Alpenta usage was assessed by patients as «very good» and «good» in 97 % of cases. Conclusions. Taking into account the study results of the nutraceutic Alpenta usage for acute or chronic TE in women, particularly the data of instrumental research methods, as well as the high efficiency and good tolerability of nutraceutic Alpenta, we can conclude that the nutraceutic Alpenta exhibits a trichoprotection effect, and its use in women with acute and chronic TE is pathogenetically justified and appropriate.