Cations inhibit specifically type I 5 alpha-reductase found in human skin.
Sugimoto Y, López-Solache I, Labrie F, Luu-The V.
Medical Research Council Group in Molecular Endocrinology, CHUL Research Center, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract
Steroid 5 alpha-reductase catalyzes the reduction of testosterone into the very potent androgen dihydrotestosterone. Previously, we showed that human type I 5 alpha-reductase is expressed mainly in the skin, whereas a type II 5 alpha-reductase is more specifically expressed in the prostate. To assess the possible differential effects of various cations on the two types of 5 alpha-reductase, we constructed expression vectors and transfected them into SW-13 cells, a human adrenal carcinoma cell line containing negligible endogenous 5 alpha-reductase activity. The expressed 5 alpha-reductases were analyzed for their sensitivity to Li, Ca, Cd, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Fe. The results showed that type I 5 alpha-reductase was strongly inhibited by Cd, Cu, and Zn and moderately inhibited by Ni and Fe, with 50% inhibitory concentration values of 0.9, 1.9, 2.0, 169.2, and 174.3 microM, respectively. In contrast, type II 5 alpha-reductase activity was inhibited only by Cu, with a 50% inhibitory concentration value of 19.2 microM. The data showed that cations could specifically control 5 alpha-reductase activity expression, which is more strongly inhibited in a target tissue, especially the skin.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7738354
Kazman wrote: (from another thread)
"My original info regarding 5AR2 and zinc came from a well referenced table on one of the hair loss sites which cataloged all known 5AR2 inhibitors. At higher doses it was shown to be as strong as fin. For some reason I’m having a hard time relocating it, might have it bookmarked on a different computer. Will continue to search, and perhaps this discussion should be broken out into its own thread, given the potential importance.
Most abstracts indicate zinc to be a general 5AR inhibitor, the more careful studies seem to indicate it inhibits 5AR1 (might be beneficial to us if it shunts more T>DHT through 5AR2) at low levels then at higher levels it inhibits 5AR2. Finally, zinc is an important actor (finger) within the androgen receptor and (I think) and its expression (once again showing the close ties between 5AR2 and AR)."
Kazman, i have seen some articles where people compare copper at a dose(not sure how high) to be as effective as fin, nothing about zinc although i havent searched that hard, i would appriciate any info you have on that.
Post fin i have had 2 copper blood tests returning high out of range, not mega high(20.9, 20.2 range 12.3-17.3) i dont have a baseline prefin so it may be normal for me, it seems fishy though. I wrote on my other thread that judging by this study copper is the last thing i want high in my blood, so i am attempting to get this down.
In regards to zinc i found a condition where due to an abundance of byproduct of haemoglobin synthesis zinc is not absorbed by the body, this is most likely quackery, but due to the symptoms being simlar to mine i have been tested.