Overview

• A 2023 study in the journal Nutrients from Tsinghua University, involving more than 1,000 men aged 18 to 45, found those drinking over one sugar-sweetened beverage daily had a 57% higher likelihood of androgenetic alopecia than nonconsumers.
• The coverage outlines proposed pathways in which disrupted glucose metabolism, hormonal changes and inflammation may interfere with the hair growth cycle.
• Other diet factors highlighted include high overall sugar intake, alcohol and excessive vitamin A (retinol), which may aggravate certain forms such as alopecia areata.
• Guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology and Mayo Clinic recommends limiting sugary drinks and alcohol and emphasizing protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins and biotin in a balanced diet.
• The articles note the evidence is associative rather than causal and emphasize that alopecia has multiple types, warranting medical evaluation for persistent loss and attention to mental well-being.