The Beneficial Effects of an Oriental Herbal Complex Supplement on Women’s Hair and Scalp Conditions: A 24-week, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Seung Hun Kim^{1, 2}, Hee Young Jeon², Su Kyung Kim², Hae Kwang Lee^2, and Beom Joon Kim¹

¹Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

²Amorepacific Corporation Research and Development Center, Gyeonggi, Korea

Cite this paper:
Seung Hun Kim, Hee Young Jeon, Su Kyung Kim, Hae Kwang Lee and Beom Joon Kim. The Beneficial Effects of an Oriental Herbal Complex Supplement on Women’s Hair and Scalp Conditions: A 24-week, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2017; 5(5):337-341. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-5-5-8

Abstract

Purpose: Diet is an environmental factor with the potential to significantly influence body changes. Up to now, no study has investigated the effects of the black bean-licorice-biotae folium extract on humans. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effects of this extract on hair and scalp - with regard to total hair number, hair diameter, scalp moisture and sebum. Materials and Method: This study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial with a 28 week duration. At the -4 week time point of test product intake, participants were enrolled according to criteria and underwent a washout period (4 weeks). At weeks 0, subjects were randomly assigned to one of two treatment regimens: (i) placebo product (4 capsules/day, 700 mg/capsule) or (ii) test product (4 capsules/day, 700 mg/capsule). At weeks 0 and 24, we performed a visual assessment, hair number count and hair diameter, scalp hydration level and sebum excretion level. Results: Expert assessment was positive for the test group. Although the effect on the hair density was not significant, it was positive. Additionally, the hair diameter in the test group significantly increased and significantly decreased in the placebo group. For scalp hydration, the effect was only positive. However, for sebum, the complex appeared to help sebum secretion decrease. There were no safety issues. Conclusion: This study shows that this oriental herbal complex supplement (a Black Bean (Glycine max), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch), and Biotae Folium (Thuja orientalis) mixture) is probably effective in improving hair and scalp conditions.

Keywords:
herbal complex Black Bean (Glycine max) Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) Biotae Folium (Thuja orientalis) hair scalpe

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