Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40820949›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025

A Novel Approach Against Male Pattern Hair Loss With Topical Dimethylglycine Sodium Salt (DMG-Na) and Caffeine: Efficacy of a 24-Week, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Leonardo Celleno, Carolina Bussoletti, Maria Vittoria Tolaini, Alfredo Rossi, Lorenzo Ala, Maike Becker, Jörn Michael Völker, Erik Schulze Zur Wiesche

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Leonardo CellenoProduct Testing Department, Eurofins Biopharma, Rome, Italy.
Carolina BussolettiSynlab Med srl., Firenze, Italy.
Maria Vittoria TolainiProduct Testing Department, Eurofins Biopharma, Rome, Italy.
Alfredo RossiDermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal. Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Lorenzo AlaDermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal. Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3843-420X
Maike BeckerDr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7650-1969
Jörn Michael VölkerDr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, Germany.
Erik Schulze Zur WiescheDr. August Wolff GmbH & Co. KG Arzneimittel, Bielefeld, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMale pattern hair loss is the most common form of hair loss in men, occurring in specific patterns. Contributing factors include hormonal changes, stress, malnutrition, and insufficient blood microcirculation.

objectiveTopical applied dimethylglycine sodium salt (DMG-Na) has been identified to increase skin microcirculation by activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducing nitric oxide production. Given the importance of sufficient microcirculation on hair growth, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topically applied DMG-Na in combination with caffeine against male pattern hair loss.

methodsA 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 154 men with male pattern hair loss, treated with a DMG-Na and caffeine-containing shampoo or the corresponding placebo. The primary efficacy parameter was the change in the number of hairs pulled via hair pull test from baseline to 6 months of daily product application. Clinical efficacy was further evaluated via phototrichogram analysis on a subgroup of 30 subjects.

resultsThe decreased number of hairs pulled during the hair pull test after 6 months of active shampoo application was significantly higher compared to the placebo (-2.8 ± 1.6 vs. 0.6 ± 2.2; p < 0.001), with no reported adverse events. Phototrichogram results showed an increase in the number of hairs, hair density, and percentage of anagen hairs after 6 months of active shampoo usage (p < 0.001).

conclusionThe clinical efficacy of this novel DMG-Na and caffeine-containing shampoo demonstrates significant potential against male pattern hair loss, offering promising results without any undesirable side effects.

Indexed as

AlopeciaCaffeineHair PreparationsSarcosineAdministration, CutaneousAdultDouble-Blind MethodDrug Therapy, CombinationHairHumansMaleMicrocirculationMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultCaffeinedimethylglycineHair PreparationsSarcosineandrogenetic alopeciacaffeinedimethylglycine sodium saltDMGDMG‐Na salthair lossmale pattern hair losssodium dimethylglycinatetopical shampoo formulation

Identifiers

PMID40820949
PMCPMC12359291

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.