Association Between Premature Hair Greying and Metabolic Risk Factors: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

The association of hair greying with metabolic syndrome is not well known, while association with obesity and coronary artery disease has been suggested. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify an association between premature hair greying and metabolic risk factors. Of the 1,929 young healthy subjects (1,067 men and 862 women), 704 (36.4%) were categorized in the premature hair greying group. Waist circumference (means of non-premature hair greying vs. premature hair greying, 74.3 vs. 76.3 cm; p < 0.001), systolic (109.2 vs. 111.7 mmHg; p<0.001) and diastolic (65.0 vs. 66.2 mmHg; p = 0.003) blood pressures, and fasting blood sugar (90.8 vs. 91.6 mg/dl; p = 0.013) were higher and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (68.1 vs 65.4 mg/dl; p < 0.001) was lower in premature hair greying group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that metabolic risk factors ≥ 2 was independently associated with premature hair greying after controlling for confounding factors (odds ratio 1.725; p = 0.036). The present study revealed an association between premature hair greying and metabolic risk factors.

Premature graying of hair: Risk factors, co‐morbid conditions, pharmacotherapy and reversal—A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The association between obesity and PGH was seen in a single study by Shin et al In their questionnaire based cross sectional study (total number of cases interviewed was 6390 and number of PGH cases were 1618) obesity was found to be significantly associated with PGH [2.61 (1.62‐4.23) P < .001] and obesity also correlated well with severity of PGH (2.22 [1.30‐3.79] P = .004) But being a questionnaire based study, the study had imitations like recall bias and women were not included 32 . Other studies also reported higher waist circumference and BMI as risk factor for PGH (704 PGH patients, 1225 non‐PGH) 52 …”

“…84 This can be linked to the deficiency of the amino acid tyrosine which converts into DOPA as the initial step of melanogenesis. 53 Altered lipid profile 52,53 and use of certain drugs is another risk factor associated with PGH. Family history is also another important risk factor, 25.3-90% of PGH patients had positive family history.…”

“…37 On the contrary, Erdo gan et al, did not find any significant difference in serum creatinine levels between different grades of gray hair. 28 Regarding hypertension as co-morbid disease, higher SBP, DBP in PGH patients is reported by Paik et al, but the difference between cases and controls is of not clinical significance 52 Zayed et al, (PGH = 104, normal hair gray = 103) did not find any association between high BP and premature gray hair, but the control group was patients with normal gray hair and the two groups were not comparable with respect to age at baseline, which may confound the interpretation of the findings. 21 Other important co-morbid conditions associated with PGH are higher uric acid level, 28 psoriasis (26% had PGH).…”

“…32 Other studies also reported higher waist circumference and BMI as risk factor for PGH (704 PGH patients, 1225 non-PGH). 52 Other important risk factors are, irregular eating habits (62% in PGH vs 40% in control), 53 lack of exercise, excessive intake of spicy food, salty food, tea, 51,54 higher SBP, DBP, FBS, 52 and psychological conditions like excessive stress, thinking and lack of adequate and late night sleep. 51…”

“…21,31,37,57 Although, Paik et al reported a higher FBS level in PGH patients, the clinical significance of this mean difference is negligible (0.8 mg/dL). 52…”