Exploring the association between alcohol consumption and androgenic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is widely recognized as the most common form of hair loss and can significantly affect individuals' quality of life. The association between alcohol consumption and AGA remains uncertain and controversial. Our primary objective is to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and AGA. Methods: We identified studies from multiple databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science, up to March 2024. For alcohol consumption, we included studies where it was defined as a categorical variable, such as Yes/No or classified by grams. For AGA, only cases that were clinically diagnosed were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were extracted from the included studies. Subgroup analyses were conducted, considering factors such as gender and study design. Results: Our findings indicated that individuals who consume alcohol had an OR of AGA compared to those who do not drink alcohol (OR, 1.40; 95% CI: .95-2.06; k = 6; I-2 = 77%). In the subgroup analysis focusing on men, an OR for alopecia was observed (OR, 1.31; 95% CI: .85-2.01; k = 4; I-2 = 78%). Additionally, a subgroup analysis based on study design revealed ORs of 1.93 (95% CI: 1.32-2.82; k = 3; I-2 =47%) for cross-sectional studies, and 1.69(95% CI: 1.33-2.14; k = 2; I-2=0%) for case-control studies. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the effect of alcohol consumption on AGA may be less than initially assumed. Future research will require large, carefully planned cohort studies that incorporate standardized diagnostic criteria to provide more definitive insights. Systematic review registration: CRD42022303374.