Today, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is recognized as one of the main biological factors involved in androgenetic hair loss, in both men and women.
Faced with this problem, many supplements claim to be "DHT Blockers". But they are not all created equal, far from it.
So the real question isn't "does it contain saw palmetto?"
But "is this DHT Blocker really dosed to act biologically?"
As a Doctor of Pharmacy and Trichologist, here is a factual analysis, based on pharmacology, biochemistry and scientific data, to understand which is the best DHT Blocker on the market – and why.
What exactly is a DHT Blocker?
A DHT Blocker is a substance capable of reducing the activity of 5-α-reductase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT.
However, DHT:
-
shortens the anagen (growth) phase,
-
gradually miniaturizes the follicle,
-
promotes thinning then disappearance of hair.
Partially blocking this enzyme slows down the androgenic mechanism, without disrupting overall hormonal balance (unlike drug treatments).
Saw Palmetto: the reference active ingredient... provided it is well dosed
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is the most studied natural active ingredient for its action on 5-α-reductase.
Several publications (notably in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Phytotherapy Research) show that:
-
the effect does not depend on the number of mg of extract,
-
but on the actual level of active fatty acids delivered.
→ This is where 90% of the DHT Blockers on the market fail.
The real problem with DHT Blockers on the market
Most supplements proudly display:
-
300 to 500 mg of saw palmetto
But in reality:
-
the type of extract is rarely specified,
-
the fatty acid titration is absent or very low,
-
the actually active quantity is often below the biological efficacy threshold.
Result:
-
enzymatic activity insufficiently inhibited,
-
imperceptible or inconsistent effect on hair loss,
-
great variability from one batch to another.
What actually makes an effective DHT Blocker (scientific criteria)
An effective DHT Blocker, according to pharmacological data, must imperatively meet these criteria:
1) A standardized extract (and not a plant powder)
Standardization guarantees:
-
batch-to-batch reproducibility,
-
a constant concentration of active ingredients.
Without standardization → random effect.
2) A high fatty acid titration
It is the free fatty acids of saw palmetto that inhibit 5-α-reductase.
-
Efficacy threshold observed in the literature:
≈ 80–90 mg of active fatty acids per day
Below → no significant enzymatic effect.
3) A quantity actually delivered, not just advertised
Announcing "300 mg of saw palmetto" means nothing if:
-
the titration is 5–10%,
-
or not specified.
What matters is: how many mg of active fatty acids actually reach the body.
Why our DHT Blocker is different (and objectively superior)
✔ Saw Palmetto: 300 mg of standardized extract
Not a raw powder, but a controlled, stable and reproducible extract.
✔ High titration: 35% fatty acids
That is 96 mg of active fatty acids actually delivered
→ Biological efficacy threshold reached, unlike most formulations on the market.
✔ Real impact on 5-α-reductase
-
measurable enzyme modulation,
-
partial but lasting inhibition of testosterone → DHT conversion,
-
progressive and physiological action.
✔ Expected result on hair loss
-
slowing down of androgenic mechanisms,
-
stabilization of hair loss over time,
-
ideal complement to a global anti-hair loss protocol (topical + scalp hygiene).
Comparative table: our DHT Blocker vs. the market
The best DHT Blocker: a matter of science, not marketing
The best DHT Blocker on the market is not the one with the most mg on the label
→ but the one that reaches the biological threshold necessary to actually act on the target enzyme.
This is precisely what makes the difference between:
-
a "trendy" supplement,
-
and a real dermo-capillary tool based on pharmacology.
In conclusion
-
Not all DHT Blockers are created equal
-
Fatty acid titration is the key criterion
-
Below ~80–90 mg → probable ineffectiveness
-
An effective DHT Blocker must be standardized, dosed and reproducible
