Researchers from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan have identified a naturally occurring sugar in the human body, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), as a potential promoter of hair growth. The finding appears in Frontiers in Pharmacology, adding a new dimension to the science of hair restoration.
In studies conducted with laboratory mice, 2dDR performed on par with minoxidil, the widely used over‑the‑counter treatment (often known as Rogaine), in reversing balding patterns in the tested animals. While the primary aim of the experiments was not to cure baldness, researchers explored whether 2dDR could influence wound healing and found an unexpected benefit: the treated skin areas showed accelerated hair growth, with thicker hair shafts developing where the sugar was applied.
The scientists traced this effect to 2dDR’s capacity to stimulate the growth of blood vessels. As the microvasculature around hair follicles expands, follicles receive more nutrients and oxygen, which supports robust hair shaft production and follicle health. This vascular mechanism helps explain why hair regrowth appeared more pronounced in the treated regions of the mice.
Additional experiments demonstrated that after twenty days of applying a gel containing both 2dDR and minoxidil, hair regrowth in male-pattern baldness models reached approximately 80 to 90 percent restoration. These results support the possibility that products incorporating 2dDR could eventually be evaluated for clinical use in treating alopecia and related hair loss conditions.
In the broader context of hair biology, these findings contribute to an evolving view of how metabolic signals and local blood vessel formation influence follicle activity. Although more work is needed to translate mouse data into safe and effective human therapies, the work lays groundwork for potential future options in hair restoration that may complement existing treatments.
Overall, the research points to a promising avenue in which a body‑natural sugar could play a role in hair biology, offering another path for researchers seeking to understand and address hair loss in men and women alike.