Height and Hair Loss

...In Men

Is there a link between height and hair loss in men? Do shorter men have an increased risk for cancer?

Researchers at the University of Bonn recently performed an extensive study of over 20,000 men (10,000 with hair loss compared to 10,000 without hair loss). They concluded that many of the genes controlling male balding are also linked to being shorter in height and a few health problems such as cancer.

The researchers uncovered 63 genetic changes that increase a man's risk of developing early onset balding. These same genetic changes were associated with an increased likelihood of being shorter as well as developing prostate cancer.

This study confirms that hair loss is not an isolated phenomenon but rather controlled by genes that also determine one's height and various aspects of health.

Reference
Heilman-Heimbach et al. Meta-analysis identifies novel risk loci and yields systematic insights into the biology of male-pattern baldness. Nature Communications, 2017; 8: 14694 DOI