Recovery Effects of Oral Supplementation with Polar Lipid-Rich Wheat Extracts on Acute Telogen Effluvium: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Acute telogen effluvium (aTE) is a transient condition characterized by an early entry of the hair into the telogen phase. Purpose: This clinical study aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of a standardized wheat polar lipid complex both in oil (WPLC-O) and in powder (WPLC-P) form in improving hair shedding. Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out in 99 healthy women with aTE. Hair growth cycle related parameters (anagen/telogen hair), hair pull test, hair shaft mechanical properties (hair elongation at break) and hair growth were assessed at baseline and after 56 (D56) and/or 84 (D84) days of products use. These parameters were completed by the subject's self-assessment. Results: Telogen hair density was decreased by up to 26.9% and 24.2% while anagen density was increased by up to 10.3% and 10.8%, for WPLC-O and WPLC-P, respectively. These effects were significant compared with the placebo as early as within 56 days. These variations corresponded to an increase in the anagen/telogen ratio by up to 62.2% and 53.3% for WPLC-O and WPLC-P, respectively. Hair growth was also significantly increased in both active groups. At the end of the study the pull test was negative for aTE, exclusively in active treatment arms. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated the efficacy of WPLC in both form in reducing hair shedding and in improving hair growth in women with aTE.