Equol

[neversaynever]

this is not true. finasteride's inhibition of 5-alpha reductase type I is negligible.

wiki claims 5%-7% of testosterone is converted to DHT...however I've read a study where levels of free testosterone were decreased in finasteride users... don't really know how to interpret that atm, I'm no expert by any means either

Why is it negligible? 5-alphase type 1 is reponsible for more than just converting T to DHT.....and fin is pretty effective at blocking it.

I think its variable amongst different people. We all have different DHT, T, 5-alpha, aromatase levels right? Given those varying levels, and the fact that our bodies try to adjust to fin by increasing and decreasing levels of other things...it seems near impossible to make a solid call on equol or fin.

[BaldinLikeBaldwin]

First reason: Finasteride works by inhibiting the action of both isoforms of 5-ar. 5-ar is not just responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but for the formation of a few other steroids, particularly neuroactive steroids that bind to the GABAA receptor. This complicates things past just eliminating DHT, and could cause a lose of "well being" and sexual side effects.

this is not true. finasteride's inhibition of 5-alpha reductase type I is negligible.

wiki claims 5%-7% of testosterone is converted to DHT...however I've read a study where levels of free testosterone were decreased in finasteride users... don't really know how to interpret that atm, I'm no expert by any means either

[Davey Jones]

If anyone still wants a random guy's opinion on why equol would not have the same sexual side effects as fin, I'm a random guy with opinions.

First reason: Finasteride works by inhibiting the action of both isoforms of 5-ar. 5-ar is not just responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but for the formation of a few other steroids, particularly neuroactive steroids that bind to the GABAA receptor. This complicates things past just eliminating DHT, and could cause a lose of "well being" and sexual side effects.

Second reason: When 5-ar is inhibited, that leaves unnatural amounts of testosterone in the bloodstream. If a person were to also have high amounts of aromatase (the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen), then the body's estrogen levels would increase. This could cause sexual dysfunction in men. Theoretically, the high levels of aromatase could have been previously countered by equally high levels of 5-ar, which when inhibited by fin, couldn't do it's job. This theory could account for why some people do fine on fin, and some people are ruined.

But the point is, neither of those things happen when you just neutralize DHT. DHT has a pretty ambiguous function past sexual maturation. I know for a fact that additional DHT (and DHT derivatives) can make you stronger, but it does seem that eliminating DHT in itself most often doesn't cause negative effects for already grown, healthy men.

Random guy's opinion over. I am not a doctor, yadda yadda yadda.

[Dazza]

2020 has a point yeahyeahyeah. it has been proven to work in tests, yes not for hairloss but neither was finasteride originally.

if the drug binds to DHT, then it will effect hairloss one way or another as DHT does play a role.

[2020]

I have a feeling equol will do **** all.

virtually impossible.

We know for a fact that it "deactivates" DHT so why wouldn't it work?

[yeahyeahyeah]

I have a feeling equol will do **** all.

[2020]

it becomes inactive = can't bind to AR. Finasteride binds to 5ar and deactivates it so how is it any different?

[neversaynever]

something like this:

Does that mean you dont know?

If neo was to stand there for 6 months stopping bullets, whos gonna pick up the bullets from the floor? Someones got to do it...

[2020]

Once equol binds to DHT. That DHT becomes something else right? Its no longer DHT. So what does it become? How does the body get rid of it?

something like this:

[neversaynever]

Once equol binds to DHT. That DHT becomes something else right? Its no longer DHT. So what does it become? How does the body get rid of it?

[neversaynever]

Folexen have a site (its Australian I think) where they are selling S-equol.

If someone was to test it they would need to be off all other meds.

Its about £20 for 100 pills and you are meant to take 4 per day so 100 pills would last 25 days....almost a month. So very rough maths says £20 = one month, so a a year would be £240. That's not terrible!!

We still dont know how much equol one would need to equal fin in terms of dropping dht levels.

10mg is very small. Guys on forums are going for like 100mg and over. Noone knows...

I think those guys claim 10mg is enough to maintain, probably based on a 6 month human trial (at 10mg). I think the overall gain was around 2% density, while the control group lost around 2%. Its vague...

[jpm]

Folexen have a site (its Australian I think) where they are selling S-equol.

If someone was to test it they would need to be off all other meds.

Its about £20 for 100 pills and you are meant to take 4 per day so 100 pills would last 25 days....almost a month. So very rough maths says £20 = one month, so a a year would be £240. That's not terrible!!

[jpm]

The problem using equol as a replacement for fin, as I see it, is that it is not been thoroughly tested for MPB like fin. So while in theory it works, maybe in practice you could use equol instead of fin for a year, it may not work that well and you can lose a lot of ground while being off fin!

Also it is pretty expensive and hard to get hold of which means that not many people have actually tested it.

Is equol a topical or pill?

[neversaynever]

Hey everyone. Hope you are having a good night. Is this something that can be taken along with Fin and Minoxidil? Would you even want to take it along with Fin and Minoxidil or is it just a replacement possibly for Fin?

Replacement for fin. IMO i wouldnt want to combine treatments that lower DHT levels. Though they do it in different ways, id rather play it safe.

Wait for people around the forums at least to see if equol stopped their shedding.

Its really difficult to judge, because even on fin sides may not appear for months, even years.

10mg is a very low dose. im tempted to double it, and combine with RU, minox and AHK.

[Dirty Hairy]

Hey everyone. Hope you are having a good night. Is this something that can be taken along with Fin and Minoxidil? Would you even want to take it along with Fin and Minoxidil or is it just a replacement possibly for Fin?