Omega3/Fish oil causes BALDING in mice: Over for Omega-3-Cels

[GreekGenes]

Fish Oil in Diet Can Cause Hair Loss in Mice, Study Finds

The oil’s omega-3 fatty acids accumulate in the mice’s skin, triggering an immune response that causes hair loss.

www.the-scientist.com

"In this case, TNF-a was inducing the death of hair follicle stem cells therefore resulted in hair loss. Further staining tests confirmed that these high TNF-a levels were only present in mice that had consumed fish oil, and when a new round of fish-oil–fed mice were treated with anti-TNF-a antibodies, they exhibited significantly less hair loss."

Yeah it's just a mice study but as someone with AGA i wont be taking Omega3 anytime soon until the science on this is settled.

 

[likenesss]

Fish oil inhibits dht

 

[appealmaxed]

everything causes balding theory

 

[PsychoH]

Soon even water will 'cause balding'.

 

[iloveboobs]

its genetic

 

[Vista]

its likely due to omega 3's propensity to upregulate vit d receptors, which will have downstream androgenic effects, more androgens = more hairloss - not much of a surprise

 

[Moggedbyevery1]

Bad day to be mice

 

[holy]

1. You're right that this is just a mice study.

Mice are often used to test hypotheses, but they aren't us. Their biology, including how their hair follicles respond to various compounds, doesn’t always translate directly to us. what works or doesn’t on a mouse scalp might not do squat to your hairline.

2. Context matters.

Further staining tests confirmed that these high TNF-a levels were only present in mice that had consumed fish oil

The study highlighted that fish oil in mice increased TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine linked to hair follicle stem cell death.

But here’s the thing: The dosage, frequency, and type of omega-3 these mice consumed were likely extreme.

Lab studies often push the limits to see if they can force a reaction, which doesn’t mimic how we consume omega-3 in our diets or supplements.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA in particular) are generally known for their anti-inflammatory properties in humans.

They’ve literally been shown to lower systemic inflammation, support cardiovascular health, and even improve skin conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases - PubMed

Among the fatty acids, it is the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which possess the most potent immunomodulatory activities, and among the omega-3 PUFA, those from fish oil-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--are more biologically potent than alpha-linolenic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Could fish oil fight inflammation?

Properly formulated enriched fish oil supplements may increase the levels of anti-inflammatory molecules in the bloodstream, according to a new study.

www.heart.org

[Even though there aren't any specific studies directly linking omega-3 fatty acids to skin health, their anti-inflammatory properties can indirectly benefit skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis]

It’s quite possible that this mouse-specific result reflects something fucking weird about their physiology rather than a warning sign for us.

3. If you’ve got AGA, your main battle is with DHT miniaturizing hair follicles, not inflammation killing hair stem cells outright. Omega-3 may not directly combat DHT (or affect it), but its role in promoting a healthier inflammatory balance might still be beneficial in some cases.

You’re not wrong to play it cautious if something feels off, but this study really doesn't mean it's over for omega-3cels. I'd wait for robust, peer-reviewed human trials before making hard conclusions.

 

[dangis]

imagine taking any supps

 

[GreekGenes]

1. You're right that this is just a mice study.

Mice are often used to test hypotheses, but they aren't us. Their biology, including how their hair follicles respond to various compounds, doesn’t always translate directly to us. what works or doesn’t on a mouse scalp might not do squat to your hairline.

2. Context matters.



The study highlighted that fish oil in mice increased TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine linked to hair follicle stem cell death.

But here’s the thing: The dosage, frequency, and type of omega-3 these mice consumed were likely extreme.

Lab studies often push the limits to see if they can force a reaction, which doesn’t mimic how we consume omega-3 in our diets or supplements.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA in particular) are generally known for their anti-inflammatory properties in humans.

They’ve literally been shown to lower systemic inflammation, support cardiovascular health, and even improve skin conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases - PubMed

Among the fatty acids, it is the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which possess the most potent immunomodulatory activities, and among the omega-3 PUFA, those from fish oil-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--are more biologically potent than alpha-linolenic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Could fish oil fight inflammation?

Properly formulated enriched fish oil supplements may increase the levels of anti-inflammatory molecules in the bloodstream, according to a new study.

www.heart.org

[Even though there aren't any specific studies directly linking omega-3 fatty acids to skin health, their anti-inflammatory properties can indirectly benefit skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis]

It’s quite possible that this mouse-specific result reflects something fucking weird about their physiology rather than a warning sign for us.

3. If you’ve got AGA, your main battle is with DHT miniaturizing hair follicles, not inflammation killing hair stem cells outright. Omega-3 may not directly combat DHT (or affect it), but its role in promoting a healthier inflammatory balance might still be beneficial in some cases.

You’re not wrong to play it cautious if something feels off, but this study really doesn't mean it's over for omega-3cels. I'd wait for robust, peer-reviewed human trials before making hard conclusions.

Thank you (unironically) for exposing my low-effort thread and for sharing your input.

I'm already on Finasteride so i've got the DHT-part mostly covered

 

[Swarthy Knight]

Don't care about ur pseudoscience nigger I will continue to get my omega 3s to brainmax

 

[holy]

I'm already on Finasteride so i've got the DHT-part mostly covered

Have you evaluated that decision, especially as a man?

 

[GreekGenes]

Have you evaluated that decision, especially as a man?

one of the best decisions i've made. I had been on minoxidil previously but kept losing ground. Only when i added Finasteride did hair loss stop and regrowth set in. No side effects.

Hence why it's important to not only use stimulants like MIN but also 5-a-reductase inhibitors like Finasteride if one wants to battle AGA effectively.

 

[holy]

one of the best decisions i've made. I had been on minoxidil previously but kept losing ground. Only when i added Finasteride did hair loss stop and regrowth set in. No side effects.

Hence why it's important to not only use stimulants like MIN but also 5-a-reductase inhibitors like Finasteride if one wants to battle AGA effectively.

If it’s working for you with no side effects, i can’t argue against your decision.

But I wouldn't frame Fin as an unquestionable win. For some men, the potential costs (biological, psychological, and otherwise) outweigh the benefits.

Personally, I’d say the smartest approach is being fully informed, not just about what works but about what risks you’re willing to accept.

But here’s my question: Have you truly evaluated the risks of finasteride beyond your current results?
Because while your experience with zero side effects is fantastic, we know that finasteride doesn’t work this way for everyone. Data from clinical trials estimates that 1-2% of users report sexual dysfunction, and more recent studies (and patient anecdotes) suggest that number could be higher.
And, no, I'm not attempting fearmonger but it's simply the reality that hormonal manipulation comes with potential consequences.

As a man, suppressing DHT, even locally, is a major trade-off. DHT isn’t just some villain molecule but actually essential for overall androgenic health. And yes, scalp-specific inhibition might seem harmless now, but we don’t fully understand the long-term systemic effects, hence why some people question whether a lifetime commitment to finasteride is worth the trade, even if it’s effective.

 

[GreekGenes]

If it’s working for you with no side effects, i can’t argue against your decision.

But I wouldn't frame Fin as an unquestionable win. For some men, the potential costs (biological, psychological, and otherwise) outweigh the benefits.

Personally, I’d say the smartest approach is being fully informed, not just about what works but about what risks you’re willing to accept.

But here’s my question: Have you truly evaluated the risks of finasteride beyond your current results?
Because while your experience with zero side effects is fantastic, we know that finasteride doesn’t work this way for everyone. Data from clinical trials estimates that 1-2% of users report sexual dysfunction, and more recent studies (and patient anecdotes) suggest that number could be higher.
And, no, I'm not attempting fearmonger but it's simply the reality that hormonal manipulation comes with potential consequences.

As a man, suppressing DHT, even locally, is a major trade-off. DHT isn’t just some villain molecule but actually essential for overall androgenic health. And yes, scalp-specific inhibition might seem harmless now, but we don’t fully understand the long-term systemic effects, hence why some people question whether a lifetime commitment to finasteride is worth the trade, even if it’s effective.

1-2% of users do indeed report sexual dysfunction. As any drug Finasteride comes with the possibility of side effects and one has to take that into account. Those side effects usually occur within the first months of treatment and are reversible.

It's always a personal decision and should only be made after consulting in depth with your dermatologist. For me personally, the importance of not going bald outweighs the possible side effects.

 

[holy]

It's always a personal decision and should only be made after consulting in depth with your dermatologist. For me personally, the importance of not going bald outweighs the possible side effects.

Fair enough, I respect that you’ve weighed the risks and made a decision that works for you & consulting a dermatologist and considering the trade-offs is absolutely the right way to go. I'll agree that side effects typically show up early and are often reversible when discontinuing finasteride. The clinical data backs that up. But, let's say we dug deeper.

1-2% might sound low, but that’s from tightly controlled clinical trials. In real-world settings, where variables are messier, some studies and surveys have reported higher numbers. then there’s the issue of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS), which (although controversial and rare) remains a possibility for some individuals.

Those side effects usually occur within the first months of treatment and are reversible.

This mostly true, but not guaranteed. There’s a small subset of men who’ve reported persistent side effects even AFTER stopping the drug.

Finasteride and sexual side effects - PMC

Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, widely used in the medical management of male pattern hairloss, has been reported to cause sexual side effects. This article critically examines the evidence available and makes recommendations as to how a ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are Finasteride Side Effects Permanent? - HairScience

Finasteride is known for causing side effects – particularly sexual ones. These issues tend to go away once treatment is stopped, but not always.

hairscience.org

the importance of not going bald outweighs the possible side effects.

You see, I can’t argue with your personal calculus. For you, the cost-benefit balance tips toward finasteride.
But I won't pretend the decision is purely cosmetic. DHT plays a role in far more than just hair loss as it’s involved in mood regulation, libido, muscle maintenance, and other androgenic functions. The long-term effects of suppressing it, even at low doses, aren’t fully understood.

Now, I’m not here to bash fin but here to question the narrative that the risks are negligible or that everyone should approach the decision the same way. What works for you might not work for someone else who values their hormonal health differently. So yeah, it’s always personal, and I just think guys need to go into it fully informed, with their eyes wide open.