According to a recent study, a chemical used in the preparation of McDonald’s fries may help fight baldness. Japanese researchers have successfully regrown hair in mice. An important advance when we know that 10 million men and 2 million women are victims in France.
A meal at McDonald’s is not a priori a gift to one’s health. The fries, however, contain a miracle ingredient to fight against baldness. This is what researchers at the University of Yokohama in Japan discovered. The site IFLScience relay the results of their study.
Develop the production of hair follicles
Japanese scientists have succeeded in regrowing hair on mice thanks to a chemical ingredient. It makes it possible to manufacture hair follicle germs. These cells help develop hair follicles, and thus fight against hair loss and baldness. This is the first time that this germ has been recreated in such large proportions during a scientific study. Their method made it possible to produce 5,000 follicle germs at once. This hair treatment would be effective in men only.
Results obtained thanks to dimethylpolysiloxane
The miracle ingredient that allowed researchers to achieve this result is oxygen permeable dimethylpolysiloxane. This product is put in the oil of the fryers of the American giant of the burger. It prevents the oil from foaming and spraying, which could cause burns. Its effects on baldness are partly related to the fact that this substance allows oxygen to pass through.
What causes baldness?
There are several factors to consider, but theis the main cause of baldness is an excess of male hormones (androgenic alopecia). A study conducted in February 2017 by the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) argued that the hair loss is associated with a genetic predisposition that would involve 287 genetic variants.
Most of the genetic variations identified are related to hair structure and development. The fall itself could be caused by hormonal changes. This is because genes are often located on the X chromosome and are linked to androgen receptors. “Many of the genetic signals associated with male pattern baldness come from the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers,” said study author Saskia Hagenaars at the time.
Today, baldness affects 10 million men (50% of whom are in their fifties) and 2 million women in France. Hair loss is considered abnormal when it exceeds 150 hairs per day over a long period of time.
.