2dDR For Hair Loss: What Do We Know So Far About This Sugar?

Article Summary

2dDR Hair introduces hair care products featuring 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), a naturally occurring sugar, claiming it can support hair regrowth. While a recent mouse study shows favorable results, there is currently no clinical evidence in humans to support its effectiveness or safety. In fact, after publishing this article, the authors of the 2dDR mouse study contacted Perfect Hair Health in concern of the sale of 2dDR until rigorous safety testing has been conducted in humans (see below). This review examines the science behind 2dDR, evaluates the quality of evidence, and considers whether these products are worth the investment. Until more robust human trials are conducted, the benefits of 2dDR remain uncertain, making this product a riskier choice in comparison to proven hair loss treatments.

Full Article

2dDR Hair is a company that sells two hair care products: 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Formula and Generic Deoxyribose 2dDR. The website features product prices and a page dedicated to a recent mouse study that has been published about the main ingredient, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR). 2dDR is a naturally occurring sugar in the human body with several properties that may benefit hair growth outcomes.

In this product review, we will examine 2dDR, whether any science is behind its use in hair loss, and whether consumers should consider this product to be a viable hair loss treatment.

Update 9/2024: From The 2dDR Mouse Model Study Authors

On September 24th, 2024, our team was contacted by Dr. Sheila MacNeil & Dr. Muhammad Yar – who represent the research team that published the first-ever mouse study assessing 2dDR and its effects on hair growth. They were concerned about companies using their study to sell 2dDR directly to hair loss sufferers, despite the absence of strong safety & efficacy data in humans.

They wanted to share this message with our readers:

Please be aware that the University of Sheffield disclaims any connection to websites that offer 2dDR for the topical treatment of hair loss.
 
When we published our manuscript showing this sugar can stimulate hair regrowth following testosterone-induced hair loss in mice, we viewed this as the first step in the journey towards producing something that is safe and effective for clinical use.

However, prior to the sugar being approved for clinical use, it will need to undergo rigorous toxicity testing and be submitted to the regulatory authority of the country in which the first-in-man clinical studies will be undertaken. Realistically, this will be a 2-3 year process.
 
The University of Sheffield does not endorse any company for the development of products for hair loss and we are dismayed to see that our research paper has been cited as if we have a connection to such products – we do not. Patient safety is paramount and this sugar has not yet been subjected to any regulatory authority for approval for clinical use.

Key Takeaways

• Branding. 2dDR Hair positions itself as a science-driven brand, leveraging 2-deoxy-d-ribose (2dDR) as its unique ingredient.
• Unique Selling Point. 2dDR Hair appears to be the first company to use 2-deoxy-D-ribose, a naturally occurring sugar in the body, in its hair growth products, differentiating its brand from others on the market.
• Clinical Support. While a preclinical study was conducted in mice, there is a lack of clinical support in humans. This means that the effectiveness and safety of 2dDR in human hair regrowth have not been conclusively established.
• Concerns. The primary concern is the lack of human clinical trials, which makes it difficult to fully assess the product’s safety and effectiveness.
• Evidence Quality. 2dDR scored 5/100 for evidence quality by our metrics.
• Recommendations to 2dDR Hair. We recommend that 2dDR Hair invests in robust clinical trials to validate the efficacy of their product in humans. This would address consumer concerns and strengthen the brand’s credibility.

What is 2dDR Hair?

2dDR Hair is a company that sells two products for hair loss. The company mentions that they have “…tried every topical and device in the marketplace…” with mixed results. Furthermore, the company claims that none of the products “…have the potential of the 2dDr-SA Advanced formula”.^[1]2dDR Hair. (no date) About. 2dDR Hair. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/about (Accessed: July 2024)

2dDR Hair offers two products: the 2dDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Formula (which contains 2dDR, copper peptides, cinnamic acid, epigenetic factors, and exosomes) and the Generic Deoxyribose 2dDR (which contains a 2dDR hydrogel with the exact formula used in a recent mouse study).

According to the website, this product is not being sold for profit, but the price is due to the costs involved in sourcing materials, hiring chemists to formulate the product, regulations, sample production, and testing time.^[2]2dDR Hair. (no date) About. 2dDR Hair. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/about (Accessed: July 2024)

Who Is Their Target Consumer?

According to their website, the product has been developed to “..rebuild the confidence of men, women, and children”.^[4]2DDR Hair. (no date). Home. 2DDR Hair. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/ (Accessed: August 2024)

What 2dDR Products Are Offered?

As mentioned, 2dDR Hair offers two products. The first is the “Generic 2dDR. This product is a hydrogel containing 2dDR only, which was used in a recent mouse study which has kicked off the hype about these products. We will go into more detail about this study below.^[5]2dDR. (no date). Basic/Generic 2dDR. 2dDR. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/deoxyribose-2ddr-generic (Accessed: August 2024)

The second product is the 2dDR Advanced Hair Serum. This product contains several extra ingredients besides 2dDR, including peptides, exosomes, and epigenetic factors. When you delve into the full ingredients, you can see that it also contains pea sprout extract, Curcuma longa callus conditioned media, green tea extract, GHK-Cu copper peptide, cinnamic acid, and hexapeptide-11.^[6]2DDR, (no date). 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Serum. 2DDR. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/2ddrhair-topical-formula (Accessed: August 2024)

How Does 2dDR Claim Its Product Is Unique?

As far as we know, 2dDR Hair is the first company to sell a product containing 2dDR. The company says the product is “The First & Original 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR-SA) Advanced Hair Serum.”^[7]2DDR, (no date). 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Serum. 2DDR. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/2ddrhair-topical-formula (Accessed: August 2024)

While the mechanism of action of 2dDR in hair regrowth is not yet fully understood, it is known that it stimulates angiogenesis and upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mice. Therefore, it might be a beneficial treatment for those who want to try an alternative to minoxidil – provided that human studies on 2dDR demonstrate not only overlapping mechanisms of action, but also similar effects for hair regrowth (the latter of which has not yet been studied).

What Is Their Pricing?

2dDR Hair charges $149.99 for its 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Formula, which, according to the website, will last 30-90 days with 12 drops applied to the scalp, three times daily.^[8]2DDR (no date). 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Serum. 2DDR. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/2ddrhair-topical-formula (Accessed: August 2024)

If you instead want the generic product, you can expect to pay $74.99.

As a bonus, when you buy either product within the USA, you get free shipping and a titanium microneedle derma roller (0.5mm). 

The website mentions that if you send an email to 2dDR Hair, you can get a $50 discount code if you buy the Advanced Topical Hair Formula and $25 if you buy the generic product. All you have to do is send 4-6 photos of the front, top, sides, and back of the head and send follow-up photos every 4 weeks. This is presumably so they can get preliminary information on how the product works in humans.^[9]2dDR Hair. (no date). 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Formula. 2dDR Hair. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/2ddrhair-topical-formula (Accessed: July 2024)

Product Science: Deep Dive

2dDR Hair states that its Advanced Hair Serum contains, “peptides, exosomes, and epigenetic factors”. Looking at the ingredients, these factors are:

Epigenetic Factors

• 2-deoxy-d-ribose
• Curcuma longa (Turmeric) callus conditioned media
• Camellia sinensis leaf extract (green tea)
• Pisum sativum (pea) sprout extract

Peptides

• GHK-Cu (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) Copper Peptide
• Hexapeptide-11

While the company mentions that the product contains exosomes, they are not explicitly listed among the provided ingredients. They could be part of the pea sprout extract or Curcuma longa callus conditioned media, which could be sources of cellular components, including exosomes.

You can read about the evidence surrounding pea sprout extract, curcumin, green tea, and copper peptides in our article library. Long story short, these ingredients don’t carry a huge amount of hard-hitting evidence supporting their use for hair regrowth.

2dDR is a sugar molecule that plays various roles in biological systems, particularly in the context of cellular stress responses and disease mechanisms. While it has only recently been investigated as a hair loss treatment, it has been the subject of research in other areas.

Early research focused on 2dDR’s fundamental role, particularly as a component of DNA. A significant breakthrough in the research around 2dDR was the discovery that the molecule was a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. Furthermore, 2dDR has been found to upregulate the production of VEGF, a key protein involved in angiogenesis.^[10]Dikici, S., Bullock, A.J., Yar, M., Claeyssens, F., MacNeil, S. (2020). 2-deoxy-d-ribose (2dDR) upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stimulated angiogenesis. Microvascular … Continue reading

In hair regrowth and cycling, angiogenesis and VEGF play important roles. 

VEGF is a key mediator in angiogenesis. Keratinocytes primarily express it in the outer root sheath of hair follicles during the growing (anagen) phase of the hair cycle. The expression leads to an increase in perifollicular vascularization, essential for providing the necessary nutrients and oxygen to rapidly growing hair follicles.

VEGF is expressed at the highest amount in dermal papilla cells (DPCs), indicating their important role in maintaining proper vasculature around the hair follicle during the anagen phase.^[11]Yano, K., Brown, L.F., Detmar, M. (2001). Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 107(4). 409-417. Available at: … Continue reading

As we know, the hair follicle cycle goes through phases of growth, regression (catagen), and non-growing (telogen). During the anagen phase, there is a significant increase in blood vessel formation, driven by the upregulation of VEGF. This angiogenesis is important for supporting the metabolic demands of the growing hair follicle. Conversely, these blood vessels regress during the catagen and telogen phases, correlating with reduced VEGF expression.

Because of these properties, studies have utilized 2dDR to assist in wound healing. One study compared 2dDR to other small sugars in wound healing. It found that 2dDR was the only sugar amongst those tested that enhanced the metabolic activity of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in a dose-dependent manner. 

Furthermore, the study found that it increased the migratory response of HDFs in a 2D wound healing model (called a scratch assay).^[13]Dikici, S. (2022). A “sweet” way to increase the metabolic activity and migratory response of cells associated with wound healing: deoxy sugar incorporated polymer fibres as a bioactive wound … Continue reading

In one of these wound-healing studies, the sugar was found to improve hair regrowth (in mice, at least). According to the University of Sheffield website, scientists from Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan observed that when they injected 2dDR into mice with wounds, the hair around the wound also grew more quickly than in untreated mice.

This then kickstarted the work that became the paper that has been gaining so much traction.^[14]University of Sheffield. (2024). Cure for male pattern baldness given boost by sugar discovery. University of Sheffield. Available at: … Continue reading

Does 2dDR Work As A Hair Loss Treatment?

So far, only one paper provides some evidence that 2dDR might improve hair loss outcomes. As mentioned above, a research team from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan used a testosterone-induced hair loss mouse model to test the efficacy of 2dDR on hair loss outcomes.^[15]Anjum, M.A., Zulfiqar, S., Chaudhary, A.A., Rehman, I.U., Bullock, A.J., Yar, M., MacNeil, S. (2024). Stimulation of hair regrowth in an animal model of androgenic alopecia using 2-deoxy-D-ribose. … Continue reading

The researchers used seven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, allowing them to acclimate to the lab environment before beginning the experiment. The mice were split into six groups: normal control (no treatment and no testosterone), T-1 model (no treatment, with testosterone), T-2 blank SA (blank hydrogel), 2dDR gel, 2% minoxidil spray (positive control), and a combination of 2dDR and minoxidil. Testosterone was then injected three times per week for two weeks. The researchers then removed the hair from the backs of the mice using a hair removal cream and topically applied 0.5 mL of the treatments to the areas without hair.

The researchers analyzed several parameters over the 21-day study, including: 

• Hair growth
• Hair shaft diameter
• Hair length
• Anagen/telogen ratio
• The area of the hair bulb covered in melanin and the number of blood vessels
• Hair follicle density
• Diameter of hair bulb

The researchers determined the mice’s skin color throughout the study to measure hair growth.  The skin darkens in mice as hair follicles transition from resting to active growth. This color change is visible through the mouse’s thin skin, especially after hair loss. This darker skin corresponds to increased melanin production and blood flow associated with active hair growth.^[16]Sundberg, J.P., Silva, K.A. (2012). What Color Is the Skin of a Mouse? Veterinary Pathology. 49(1). 142-145. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985811417244

Looking subjectively at the mouse photos (Figure 3), it does appear that the 2dDR group (T-3 in the figure) showed improved hair growth over the testosterone (T-1) and hydrogel (T-2) groups. Furthermore, the combination group showed improved hair regrowth in the minoxidil and 2dDR groups.

Next, the researchers analyzed hair shaft length and hair shaft diameter. All three treated groups (2dDR, minoxidil, and combination minoxidil) improved hair length to the same level as the untreated control (NC) and were increased compared to the testosterone-only treated group. In hair shaft diameter, the 2dDR and minoxidil groups were also found to be at a similar level to the NC group and improved over the testosterone-only treated group (Figure 4).

Regarding hair follicle length, the 2dDR and minoxidil-treated groups were improved even over the NC group. Hair follicle length is important as the longer the hair follicle is, the deeper it will be in the scalp. The deeper the hair follicle in the scalp, the more likely it is to be in anagen.^[19]Jiminez, F., Izeta, A., Poblet, E. (2011). Morphometric analysis of the human scalp hair follicle: practical implications for the hair transplant surgeon and hair regeneration studies. Dermatologic … Continue reading

Hair follicle density was also measured from skin sections taken on day 21. Compared to the NC group, all three treated groups (2dDR, minoxidil, and combination) were significantly improved (Figure 5). It should be mentioned, however, that there was no mention of attempting to reduce bias here.

How do we know that they didn’t take sections of skin with more hair present in the treated groups and not in the untreated groups? This would be unconscious bias, and in these cases, it would be better to mark an area before treatment in the same place on each mouse so that a more unbiased approach can be taken.

If you look back at Figure 3, we would say that most of the mice in T-3 did not reach the level of regrowth as the NC group, yet in Figure 5, the hair follicle density is significantly higher. It is important to consider these things when conducting hair growth studies, as they can cast a shadow of doubt over a well-intentioned study.

The next part of the study involved using skin sections to analyze the diameter of the hair bulb and the anagen/telogen ratio. The researchers found that mice treated with 2dDR showed the largest hair bulb diameter, on par with the untreated hair follicles (Figure 6). When it came to the ratio of anagen/telogen hairs, all of the treated hair follicles (2dDR, minoxidil, and combination) showed significantly higher ratios than those of the untreated mice.

Lastly, the researchers analyzed the area of the bulb covered in melanin and the number of blood vessels present in the skin sections. In both cases, the 2dDR-treated mice showed similar results to the untreated hair follicles (Figure 7), indicating that the product effectively induced the anagen stage.

Interestingly, for most of these results, 2dDR on its own appeared to outperform both minoxidil and a combination of minoxidil and 2dDR, indicating that it may not have an additional benefit as a complementary treatment.

How Should We Interpret This Mouse Study On 2dDR?

So, at first glance, the results look positive. But there are some limitations:

1. This study was conducted in mice.

While mouse models are great for initial investigations, they do not always provide a 1:1 view of how the product will work in humans, particularly because the mouse’s hair cycle functions differently from that of humans. This makes it difficult to conclude whether the 2dDR is effective. Moreover, mouse models – even when the mice are genetically bred to resemble “androgenic alopecia” mice – still have very poor translatability to humans with androgenic alopecia. The polygenic nature of hair loss in humans is still too complicated to adequately capture and translate into mice, and vice-versa.^[23]2dDR Hair. (no date). 2DDR+ Advanced Topical Hair Serum. 2dDR Hair. Available at: https://www.2ddrhair.com/product-page/2ddrhair-topical-formula (Accessed: August 2024)

2. The study does not specifically mention whether the skin sections were taken from the same area of the mouse for each treatment group.

Unfortunately, this opens up the study the possibility of unconscious bias, as the researchers may have unconsciously chosen sections from more “hairy” areas of the skin in the treated groups. Just looking at the mouse images, we struggled to see how the 2dDR group (T-3) outperformed the untreated group (NC) so well. 

So, to summarize, in mice, 2dDR appeared to perform as good or better than minoxidil in most circumstances. But is this enough evidence for humans to use it?

Should I Use 2dDR For Hair Growth?

Currently, there is no long- (or short-) term safety or efficacy evidence to support 2dDR’s use in humans for hair regrowth. 

For those who are okay with this, you may want to consider this product if:

• You are comfortable experimenting with a product that does not yet have clear data on clinical efficacy or safety
• You intend to try 2dDR alongside better-supported hair loss treatments, or you’ve tried better-supported treatments in the past, and cannot tolerate them or did not benefit from them
• You are comfortable paying $149.99 for a 30-90 day supply
• You tend to be an early adopter of new hair loss treatments
• You are willing to use a product three times a day
• You want to take part in the 2dDR Hair discounts in exchange for providing photos of your hair

Recommendations to the Company

We recommend that 2dDR Hair fund a registered clinical trial to determine the product’s efficacy and safety in humans. In our eyes, this will help to better clarify both efficacy and safety, and serve as a stronger marketing tool.

Final Thoughts

We believe that gold-standard clinical trials should be conducted to show the product’s efficacy in humans before it is sold to the wider public. Having said that, we also understand that this can be infeasible for small teams, and that there is a market for early adopters of experimental hair loss treatments. We take no issues with consumers experimenting with 2dDR, so long as consumers understand the current landscape of clinical support for the product – which is incredibly limited in terms of safety and efficacy – and then set expectations accordingly.