Efficacy and Safety of Two Hair Supplements in Men With Androgenic Alopecia

September 1, 2026 updated by: Activ'inside

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Two Food Supplements on Hair Health in Caucasian Male Subjects With Androgenic Alopecia : a Multicentric, Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different formulations of a food supplement on hair health in healthy Caucasian male subjects aged 35 to 65 years with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Whether the two formulations improve hair growth and reduce hair loss after 42 and 84 days, as assessed by phototricogram parameters.
  • Whether the two formulations improve hair brightness, and colour lightness after 42 and 84 days, as assessed by spectrophotometer/colorimeter.

Researchers will compare two active supplement groups and a placebo group to determine whether the active products improve objective hair parameters and perceived hair quality.

Participants will:

  • be randomized to one of three groups : Active 1, Active 2 or Placebo;
  • take one capsule daily at breakfast for 84 days;
  • attend clinical visits at baseline, Day 42, and Day 84;
  • undergo hair assessments including pull test, phototrichogram, and spectrophotometer/colorimeter measurements;
  • complete a self-assessment questionnaire at follow-up visits;
  • be monitored for safety and tolerability throughout the study.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
99

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Cosenza
      • Rende, Cosenza, Italy
        • Nutratech S.r.l. - Via Francesco Todaro 20/22
    • Ferrare
      • Ferrara, Ferrare, Italy
        • Complife Italia S.r.l. - Via Mortara 171
    • Milan
      • Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy
        • Complife Italia S.r.l. - Via Signorelli 159
      • Milan, Milan, Italy
        • Complife Italia S.r.l. - Piazzale Siena 11
    • Pavia
      • Biella, Pavia, Italy
        • Complife Italia SRL - Corso San Maurizio 25
      • San Martino Siccomario, Pavia, Italy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Healthy male subjects
  2. Subjects of Caucasian ethnicity
  3. Subjects aged between 35 and 65 years (extremes included)
  4. Subjects with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia, corresponding to the grade II to III vertex on Hamilton-Norwood scale
  5. Subjects with hair that is at least 5-7 cm long
  6. Subjects with visible grey or white hair
  7. Subjects registered with national health service
  8. Subjects certifying the truthfulness of the personal data disclosed to the Principal Investigator or designated personnel
  9. Subjects able to understand the language used in the investigation center and the information given by the Principal Investigator or designated personnel
  10. Subjects able to respect the instructions given by the Principal Investigator or designated personnel as well as able to respect the study constraints and specific requirements
  11. Subjects who commit not to change their daily routine or lifestyle during the study*
  12. Subjects on stable pharmacological therapy (except for the pharmacological therapy in the non-inclusion criteria) for at least one month without any changes expected or planned during the study

  13. Subjects informed about the test procedures who have signed a consent form and privacy agreement

    • Subjects are asked not to change their usual hair hygiene and styling products (such as shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hairspray, etc.) throughout the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects who do not meet the inclusion criteria
  2. Subjects with any acute, chronic, or progressive disease or condition that may interfere with the study data or that the Principal Investigator considers dangerous to the subject or incompatible with the requirements of the study **
  3. Subjects participating or planning to participate in other clinical trials
  4. Subjects who participated in a similar study without respecting an adequate washout period (at least one month)
  5. Subjects that have food intolerances or food allergies to ingredients of the study product
  6. Subjects under pharmacological treatments that are considered incompatible with the study requirement by the Principal Investigator ***
  7. Subjects who are currently using food supplement(s) and/or products with the same activity as the study product, or who haven't observed an adequate washout period (at least one month)
  8. Subjects admitted to a health or social facility
  9. Subjects planning a hospitalization during the study
  10. Subjects not able to be contacted in case of emergency
  11. Subjects deprived of freedom by administrative or legal decision or under guardianship
  12. Subjects who have or have had a history of alcohol or drug addiction

  13. Subjects with eating disorders (i.e. bulimia, psychogenic eating disorders, etc.)

    • Including oncological diseases, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, acute inflammatory diseases, ongoing infectious diseases, and alopecia areata.

      • Including corticosteroid drugs, biological drugs, and cytostatic drugs.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Active product 1
hard shell capsule containing green tea leaf extract (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Theaceae), bamboo shoot extract (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad., Poaceae), and selenium-enriched yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and maltodextrin
Dietary supplement: formulation of green tea leaf extract, bamboo shoot extract and selenium-enriched yeast
one capsule per day during breakfast with water for 84 days
Active Comparator: Active product 2
hard shell capsule containing grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae), bamboo shoot extract (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad., Poaceae), and selenium-enriched yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and maltodextrin
Dietary supplement: formulation of grape seed extract, bamboo shoot extract and selenium-enriched yeast
one capsule per day during breakfast with water for 84 days
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
hard shell capsule containing maltodextrin
Dietary supplement: Placebo (maltodextrin)
one capsule per day during breakfast with water for 84 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in anagen hair density
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Number of hairs in anagen phase per cm² and proportion (in %) using phototricogram (TrichoScan)
42 and 84 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total number of hair in anagen phase
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
= (Anagen hair after supplement use x scalp surface) - (Anagen hair before supplement use x scalp surface) where the scalp surface is 580 cm2.
42 and 84 days
Change in telogene hair density
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Number of hairs in telogen phase per cm² and proportion (in %) using phototricogram (TrichoScan)
42 and 84 days
Number of hair protected against falling out (HPF)
Time Frame: 42 ans 84 days

(TEAF x SH) - (TEBE x SH)

where: TEAF is the number of telogen hair after supplement use ; TEBE is the number of telogen hair before product use; SH is the head surface (580cm2).
42 ans 84 days
Change in total hair density
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Number of total hairs per cm² using phototricogram (TrichoScan)
42 and 84 days
Change in hair brightness
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Hair brightness is measured on 5 points near the hairline using a spectrophotometer/colorimeter CM 700D (Konica-Minolta). The measured parameter is the 8° gloss value (average value of the 5 measures).
42 and 84 days
Change in hair colour lightness
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Hair color lightness is measured on 5 points near the hairline using a spectrophotometer/colorimeter CM 700D (Konica-Minolta). The measured parameter is the L* parameter (average value of the 5 measures) indicating the hair color lightness (i.e. lighter or darker hair).
42 and 84 days

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-assessment questionnaire
Time Frame: 42 and 84 days
Subjects are asked to reply to a self-assessment questionnaire to assess the efficacy perceived and the pleasantness of the product. Responses are provided spontaneously, without external influence.
42 and 84 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Activ'inside

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Enza Cestone, Dr, Complife Italia Srl

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 1, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • EC_0000367/2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

confidential data

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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