Causes of Hair Loss

Hormonal Imbalance: Androgenetic alopecia is one of the most common types of hair loss, primarily linked to elevated androgen levels or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. These hormones cause the hair follicles to gradually shrink, leading to thinner and softer hair, which eventually falls out.

Aging of Hair Follicles: As we age, hair follicles undergo a natural aging process, resulting in decreased functionality. Cell proliferation in the follicles slows down, and the hair growth cycle shortens, causing hair to become thinner and more prone to falling out.

Nutritional Deficiencies: A lack of essential nutrients such as protein, B vitamins (like biotin), iron, and zinc can negatively affect hair growth and health. For example, protein is a key component of hair, and its deficiency can make hair fragile and prone to breakage.

Stress and Lifestyle Factors: Prolonged mental stress, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy lifestyle habits such as staying up late, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can all contribute to hair loss. These factors disrupt the body’s endocrine system and metabolism, which in turn affects the health of the hair follicles.


Mechanism of NMN in Hair Loss

Regulating Hair Follicle Cell Metabolism: NMN, as a precursor to NAD⁺, increases the intracellular levels of NAD⁺. NAD⁺ plays a crucial role in various metabolic reactions within cells, including regulating the energy metabolism of hair follicle cells. By improving the energy metabolism of these cells, NMN can promote their proliferation and differentiation, helping to maintain normal follicle function and, consequently, reduce hair loss.

Delaying Hair Follicle Aging: Hair follicle aging is linked to cellular aging mechanisms. NMN activates longevity proteins called Sirtuins, which require NAD⁺ as a coenzyme to perform their deacetylation activities.

By activating Sirtuins, NMN regulates gene expression, metabolic processes, and stress responses within cells, slowing down the aging of hair follicle cells, which in turn delays follicle aging and reduces hair loss.

Improving Endocrine and Nutritional Metabolism: NMN may regulate the endocrine system, influencing androgen levels or the sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens, thus alleviating androgenetic alopecia.

Additionally, NMN might help improve nutrient metabolism, aiding in the treatment of hair loss caused by nutritional deficiencies. For instance, NMN may enhance the absorption and utilization of B vitamins and improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients such as proteins.


Research Progress and Clinical Application Prospects

Research published in the journal Molecules has indeed shown that NMN can improve hair follicle stem cells, thereby promoting hair growth.

As people age and are exposed to external environmental factors, the level of NAD+ (coenzyme I) in the body gradually declines, leading to a loss of vitality in matrix cells, which can result in issues like gray hair and hair loss. NMN, as a direct precursor to NAD+, can significantly boost NAD+ levels, reinvigorating biological processes.


The research team used a hair loss model stimulated by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone closely related to hair loss, to simulate symptoms of male pattern baldness. The subjects were divided into different groups, including an NMN treatment group, a DHT group (negative control), a minoxidil treatment group (positive control), and a blank group (untreated normal group).

The study found that NMN significantly promoted the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (HDPCs). Particularly at a specific concentration (e.g., 0.316 mg/mL), the cell proliferation rate reached its peak, at around 150%.

Mice treated with NMN showed positive effects in terms of hair growth, skin color changes, and skin thickness. Compared to the minoxidil treatment group, NMN showed similar or even superior effects in some aspects. NMN was able to reverse the follicle shrinkage, thinning, and sparse hair conditions caused by DHT, significantly increasing the number and size of hair follicles, and improving the length and thickness of the hair.


Mechanism of Action

Increasing NAD+ Levels: NMN raises NAD+ levels, enhancing the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which generates more ATP. This provides sufficient energy to the matrix cells, restoring their vitality and promoting hair growth.

Reducing Oxidative Stress: NMN activates antioxidant enzymes, lowering oxidative stress levels and reducing inflammation in the scalp. This improves the environment for hair follicle stem cells.

Promoting Blood Circulation: NMN helps prevent the reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ensuring smooth blood circulation in the scalp, providing sufficient blood supply for hair growth.