The tocotrienols found in Toco-8 are super powerful anti-oxidants which have been proven to have powerful health benefits for the cardiovascular system. (2-8) Tocotrienols also play an important role in the synthesis of LH & FSH, which stimulate Testosterone production from the testes, while also increasing the testes Testosterone production capacity from LH & FSH stimulation. (9-11) Recently, this unique tocotrienol complex has been granted a US patent to prevent hair loss and promote hair regrowth in individuals suffering from alopecia. In the study, all individuals supplemented with the tocotrienol complex showed a positive result, with an average 42% increase in hair count after 5 months of treatment. (1) This is a much welcomed alternative to the popular hair loss drug Finasteride, a drug which reduces DHT and contributes to a host of side effects such as libido loss, gynecomastia, and depression. (12)
I am not doubting your claims bro, as this does seem to be an interesting product. However, saying that it is an alternative to Finesteride is a bit of stretch I think.
Genetic Male Pattern Baldness is influenced by many factors, a major one (at least according to current research) being the hair follicle cell's receptor sensitivity to DHT. For many men, Finasteride is a viable and relatively safe way to control the levels of DHT in the body, and in combination with a hair growth stimulant like Minoxidil or Low Level Laser therapy is a proven, FDA approved method for attempting to keep hairloss at bay.
The side effects mentioned on your site for Finasteride are indeed real, but are often exaggerated. Less than 1% of men who use Finasteride end up experiencing side effects greater than a placebo control group after 2-4 years of continuous use:
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From the patent application for the components of Toco-8:
Nineteen patients (14 men and 5 women) entered the study and completed at least the first 5 months of therapy. Their ages ranged from 23 to 59 years. The mean duration of current alopecia episode was approximately 5 years. The extent of alopecia was as follows: less than 25%, 6 patients; 25 49%, 8 patients; 50 74%, 4 patients; 75 99%, 1 patient.
Eleven volunteers were randomized to receive the tocotrienol formulation supplementation while 8 volunteers were in the placebo group. Comparability of the treatment groups with respect to initial hair counts as well as the weight of hair was assessed. No statistically significant difference between treatment groups was detected for any of the above characteristics.
At the end of the supplementation period, all volunteers in the tocotrienol formulation group had positive results, recording an increase in the number of hairs in the evaluation area. Seven volunteers (64%) showed regrowth of between 10 35% while 3 volunteers (27%) had 50% or greater regrowth. One volunteer had regrowth of more than 100%. The mean percentage of increase in the number of hairs is 42.4±40.9% (mean±SD). (Table 1 and FIG. 1). The increase is statistically significant (p<0.05) when analyzed using paired sample t-test. On the other hand, of the total eight volunteers in the placebo group, two showed hair regrowth, two had hair loss while the other four did not show any significant changes in the number of hairs. The mean percentage of increase was 1.4±13.8%. No statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the number of hairs was detected between baseline and post-supplementation, thus indicating that the placebo effect did not occur during this study.
A study of 19 people over 5 months is hardly
proof that a product is an effective hair regrowth agent. It's compelling that all of the people in the test group showed positive results however:
-the study doesnt mention what
type of Alopecia each patient was suffering from. Were all the patients in the placebo group suffering from Androgenic Alpecia, while those in the test group dealing with Tellogen Effluvium due to a stress reaction? From the study described in the patent, we can't tell.
-While 5 months is usually long enough to tell if a product is effective at regrowing hair, it takes years of analysis to prove if a product is a real treatment for Androgenic Alopecia.
-Which patients were in which group? Were all 6 patients with less than 25% hairloss in the test group, and the nearly bald people in the control group? Although unlikely, a scenario like this would have a very skewed impact on the results of the study, as Andorgenic Alopecia becomes harder to treat as a person gets older and as symptoms progress.
Also, the Primordial Perfomance site states that Toco 8 also has a positive effect on testosterone production. While this is indeed a great aspect of the product, if Toco-8 does not turn out to be a genuine treatment for hairloss - it may actually be worse for the hairlines for those dealing with Androgenic Alopecia, as the increase in testosterone will also result in an increase in DHT! If someone were to discontinue Finasteride based on the claims that Toco 8 was a viable alternative, and it did not end up being a cure-all for Androgenic Alopecia, they would be in for somewhat of a shock if the testosterone boosting qualities of the product worked, and the hair loss prevention aspects did not.
I think Primordial Perfomance makes solid products, and Toco 8 certainly looks interesting. It very well may help with MPB symptoms - but from the study described in the patent application it isnt any more proven to do so than the myriad of other nutriceuticals in the US Patent Database that claim to regrow hair and are sadly ineffective for most of the people who try them.
Again bro - not an attack on what appears to be at the very least a very solid and cost effect anti-oxidant supplement. I only wanted to bring the above to light because for those men and women afflicted with genetic Alopecia, anything that even looks like it
might help is reason enough for excitement. Excitement that is often met with disappointment when a product fails to work as promised, as so many of them do.
BV
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Here's one user who was bald before her cycle of Toco-8, That's right it brings back those full luscious 80's do's