a randomized , double blind , placebo - controlled two groups parallel study was conducted to compare the effect of a mixture of tocotrienols , comprising α -, γ -, and δ - tocotrienols and alpha - tocopherol , with placebo on hair growth . all volunteers were randomized to receive one capsule comprising either ( i ) a mixture of tocotrienols and alpha - tocopheral , or ( ii ) a placebo , twice daily after food over a period of at least 5 months . they were seen for an efficacy evaluation every month throughout the study . the control was a placebo capsule containing 600 mg of soya bean oil , and the tocotrienol formulation consisted of capsules containing a mixture of about 50 mg of tocotrienols and about 23 i . u . alpha - tocopherol . the entire study took 15 months for completion . although the preferred embodiment of the formulation is in the form of soft gelatin capsule , other oral pharmaceutical dosage forms are not excluded . the preferred dosage range of tocotrienols for oral consumption is from about 20 mg to about 1500 mg / day . the formulation may also be applied topically and may be in the form of a cream , a lotion , an ointment , a gel , a liquid , or any other topical form . the concentration of tocotrienols used in the topical formulation is about 1 . 0 %, and the minimum concentration of tocotrienols in any formulation is about 0 . 1 %. volunteers of 15 years of age or older and in good general health were recruited into the study . alopecia must have present for least 2 months and the areas alopecia must not have any visual evidence of new hair growth . volunteers previously exposed to minoxidil were ineligible to participate in the study , as were patients who have used hair - restorers or systemic drugs like steroids , antihypertensives , cytotoxic compounds , vasodilators , anticonvulsant drugs , β - blockers , spironolactone , cimetidine , ketoconazole , estrogens or progesterons within the previous three months . patients experiencing hair loss due to thyroid disease , adverse drug reactions , scalp or hair trauma , structural hair shaft abnormalities and lichen planus were excluded from the study . two parameters were chosen to evaluate the efficacy of tocotrienols and alpha - tocopherol supplementation : i ) hair count — hair count served as the primary efficacy measure . an area of 2 × 2 cm was selected in the area of hair thinning for each patient , and the two opposing corners of the square were permanently marked ( using a 4 cm 2 wire template ) to ensure that the hair in the same area was counted at each visit . ii ) weight of hair — a small tuft of hair ( at least 20 strands ) within the demarcated area was clipped horizontally . twenty strands were randomly chosen and cut into 1 cm in length . the total weight was obtained using a microbalance and the mean weight was recorded . all of the two parameters were obtained at baseline and every month thereafter during the study . only the terminal hair growth was recorded and analyzed . 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 fig1 ). the increase is statistically significant ( p & lt ; 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 & gt ; 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 . however , in terms of the weight of the hair , no statistically significant difference ( p & gt ; 0 . 05 ) between pre - and post - supplementation was detected for both groups of volunteers ( tocotrienol and placebo ). the mean percentage of weight increment was 16 . 4 ± 42 . 5 % in the tocotrienol formulation group while that of the placebo group had an increase of 5 . 7 ± 40 . 1 %. ( table 2 ). the above - mentioned studies therefore indicate that supplementation with a formulation comprising a mixture of tocotrienol , alpha - tocopherol and pharmaceutically acceptable excipient appears to promote hair growth and increase the number of hair in persons experiencing hair loss . the choice of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients will be obvious to those skilled in the relevant art . acceptable excipients include any inert , compatible substances added to make the final dosage forms , for the formulations , such as tablets , capsules , or soft gelatin capsules . for example , vegetable oil can be added as an excipient to make up the volume for the encapsulation of soft gelatin capsules . as such , a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient includes any excipients that are approved for use by the relevant authorities and are compatible with tocotrienols . while the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described , it should be understood that various changes , adaptations and modifications may be made thereto . it should be understood , therefore , that the invention is not limited to details of the illustrated invention shown in the figure and tables , and that variations in such minor details will be apparent to one skilled in the art .
the present invention relates to a formulation for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss . supplementation with the formulation promotes hair growth and increases the number of hairs in mammals . in one embodiment , a composition for promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss according to the present invention comprises mixed tocotrienols and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient .