A study suggests that sugar stored in the body could be a potential cure for men's hair loss.

The cure for male pattern baldness could already be in the human body.

Up to 50% of men worldwide experience gradual hair loss due to a certain condition.

The solution to the issue, according to researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., may be found in a naturally occurring sugar within the human body.

A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) sugar is involved in multiple biological processes in animals and humans and can promote hair growth in mice.

Researchers from the United Kingdom's Sheffield University and COMSATS University Pakistan have spent the past eight years investigating sugar's potential to aid in wound healing by promoting the formation of new blood vessels.

Untreated wounds showed slower hair growth compared to wounds with hair growth around them, as observed by researchers.

According to a university press release, the scientists tested the effectiveness of this treatment on testosterone-induced hair loss in mice, which is akin to the cause of male pattern baldness.

New blood vessels formed when a small dose of sugar was applied, resulting in hair regrowth.

According to the university, the deoxy ribose sugar could be as effective as hair regrowth drugs, as suggested by the findings.

More research is needed on male pattern baldness, according to Sheila MacNeil, PhD, emeritus professor of tissue engineering at the University of Sheffield.

Currently, there are only two FDA-approved drugs available for this condition, as stated in a message sent to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"We discovered a small, naturally occurring sugar in our U.K./Pakistan collaboration that stimulates new blood vessel formation and promotes wound healing, and to our delight, it also stimulates hair growth in an animal model."

MacNeill stated that the sugar is "inexpensive, stable, and natural," and can be easily applied in a gel form, which the researchers plan to investigate further.

In a conversation with Planet Chronicle Digital, Dr. John Whyte, WebMD's chief medical officer in Washington, D.C., expressed his interest in the study findings.

The effectiveness of this naturally occurring sugar suggests significant potential for developing new hair loss treatments, according to Whyte, who was not involved in the research.

The doctor pointed out that current therapies, although they have been in use for some time, have not been very effective and may cause adverse reactions.

Although this research is in its early stages, more investigation and clinical trials are required to determine if the sugar can be safely and effectively used as a cure for male pattern baldness, Whyte stated.

He advised caution while viewing the results with optimism.

"New natural treatments for hair loss may be possible, according to research, but further study is necessary before it can be considered a cure."

Dr. Brendan Camp, a dermatologist in New York, confirmed to Planet Chronicle Digital that there are limited treatment options for hair loss.

"The study provides hope for new natural treatments for hair loss, but more research is required before it can be considered a cure."

None of the potential treatments studied have been found to be curative, according to Camp, who was not involved in the research.

"The objective of alopecia treatment is to assist patients in maintaining their existing hair."

If successful future research is carried out, this study could result in a new, effective therapy, he stated.

He stated that 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) treatment is believed to enhance hair growth by increasing the number of blood vessels.

"It is unlikely that the treatment will cause follicles that have already disappeared to grow back, although it may stimulate existing follicles to grow."

While promising, the treatment with 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) for alopecia requires further studies to verify its reproducibility, efficacy, and practicality in real-world scenarios.