The extract, Serevelle from Valensa International, was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial led by dermatologist Glynis Ablon at the Ablon Skin Institute and Research Center in Manhattan Beach, California, funded by Valensa International.
Initial findings were published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2025, with follow-up results at 180 days reported in a second publication in 2026. The trial examined daily supplementation in healthy men and women aged 25 to 65 who reported hair thinning.
Growing demand for hair health supplements
The research comes as demand for hair-focused supplements continues to expand in the United States.
The U.S. hair health supplements market was valued at approximately $650.8 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $1.07 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%, according to Grand View Research.
The market research firm attributes growth in part to increasing consumer interest in targeted nutritional approaches for hair health and proactive wellness strategies.
This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Anurag Pande, PhD, vice president of science and commercialization at Valensa International, who told NutraIngredients: “The primary consumer pain points in the hair growth and hair health supplement category include high doses, lack of rigorous and credible scientific studies, and limited safety data.”
Multi-ingredient supplements accounted for the largest share of the market in 2025 at 66.6%, while vitamins represented 24.8% of ingredient sales. Products positioned for hair growth, thinning and hair loss comprised 54.3% of the market, and gummies accounted for 34.6% of supplement formats.
Early changes reported within three months
The first publication evaluated outcomes at the 90-day point of the six-month study.
Participants were randomized to receive either the study ingredient or a placebo once daily. Hair metrics were assessed at baseline, day 56 and day 90 using imaging tools designed to measure follicular changes and hair density.
By day 90, reported outcomes “showed statistically significant increases in terminal hair, vellus hair and total hair, demonstrating greater increases in healthy, thicker hairs, new hair growth and hair density,” Dr. Pande told us.
Participants receiving the extract also experienced reductions in hair shedding compared with baseline, he added, and there were no adverse events during the study period.
Differences between groups increase over six months
Researchers later published results covering the full 180-day intervention period. At six months, participants receiving the active treatment continued to show increases in terminal hair count, vellus hair count and total hair density compared with placebo.
“When the net treatment effect versus placebo was compared between 90 days and 180 days, the treatment benefit at day 180 was approximately 40% larger than the benefit observed at day 90,” Pande said.
Subgroup analysis also examined outcomes among menopausal women, who Dr. Pande characterized as “an underserved population that is highly dissatisfied with current offerings due to high pill burden, limited effectiveness, safety concerns, and ingredients not backed by clinical data.”
In this subject group, the results showed “a substantial reduction in shedding of up to 70%, with these results already observed by 90 days,” he noted. The analysis also reported increases in hair density and terminal hair count among female participants overall.
Fatty acids linked to DHT pathway
Serevelle is derived from Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), and the extract is standardized to contain four free fatty acids associated with hair follicle biology.
These fatty acids are linked to 5-alpha reductase activity, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is associated with hair follicle miniaturization in androgen-related hair loss.
“These fatty acids were also shown to extend the anagen growth phase of the hair cycle and help maintain the follicular stem cell niche, supporting healthier and thicker hair,” Said Dr. Pande.
Preclinical testing compared the extract with conventional saw palmetto ingredients, with a 75-fold greater inhibition of 5-alpha reductase compared with standard saw palmetto extracts.
Low dose may allow wider formulation formats
The clinical trial used a daily serving containing 105 mg of the ActiLipid4Hair complex within a 160 mg extract. According to Dr. Pande, the relatively small dose may allow the ingredient to be incorporated into a variety of supplement formats.
“Clinical efficacy at this low dose allows formulators to develop hair growth supplements delivered in one small softgel, capsule or other consumer preferred formats,” he explained, adding that “it also provides cost efficiency per dose and lowers manufacturing costs through smaller capsule sizes and fewer pills per serving, which ultimately supports better consumer compliance and adherence,” he added.
The extract can also be combined with other nutrients commonly used in hair health formulations, including vitamins, minerals, and collagen peptides, he shared.
Dr. Pande also cautioned brands that reference the clinical data to ensure communications remain aligned with regulatory guidelines. “The clinical data provide substantial evidence supporting hair growth, improved hair health, reduced shedding and improved hair follicle health,” he said, but “we encourage brand partners to align all communications with regulatory guidelines while responsibly leveraging the strength of our clinical research.”
Sources:
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
24, no. 12 (2025): e70585, https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70585.
“The Safety and Efficacy of a Proprietary Bioactive Fatty Acids Extract From Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) for Promoting Hair Growth and Reducing Hair Loss in Adults With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair: 90-Day Results”
Author: G.Ablon
J Cosmet Dermatol.
2026 Feb;25(2):e70717. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41652806/
“The Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Extract for Promoting Hair Growth in Adults With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair: 180-Day Results.”
Author: Ablon G.