GLP-1 drugs, widely used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, may be associated with a small additional risk of hereditary male pattern baldness, according to a new study by NYU Langone Health scientists, published online Sept. 3, 2026, in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (NYU Langone Health).
Researchers studied androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of male pattern baldness, in which hair loss mainly affects the front and top of the head. The analysis showed that in men with a genetic predisposition, increased activity of the GLP-1 receptor signaling pathway was associated with about a 7% additional risk of such hair loss. (NYU Langone Health)
To the same class belong drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide, known, in particular, under the trade names Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. However, the authors stress that the work was not an observational study of patients directly taking these medications. The scientists used the Mendelian randomization method, in which genetic variants are used as a kind of natural analogue of the effect on a certain biological mechanism.
The study identified 22 genetic variants that increase the expression of the GLP1R gene and, accordingly, the activity of the GLP-1 receptor. This data was compared with genetic information on male pattern baldness. Large databases were used for the analysis, including eQTLGen with data from 31,684 individuals and Complex Traits Genetics with data from 205,327 individuals.
The association held after taking into account a number of other factors that can influence hair loss, including blood pressure, insulin resistance and testosterone levels. The authors consider the results to be evidence of a possible causal role of the GLP1R pathway itself, but caution that they cannot be automatically equated to the effect of a specific drug.
"Our study is the first to show a genetic link between GLP-1 activity and an increased risk of male pattern baldness in androgenetic alopecia," said senior study author Lynn Petuchova of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. According to her, in the future, genetic evaluation can potentially help to identify patients most prone to such a side effect.
The mechanism of the possible effect remains unclear. Researchers hypothesize both a direct effect on hair follicles and an indirect effect through metabolic changes. In addition, hair loss in some patients has previously been associated with rapid weight loss, insufficient nutrient intake, and temporary telogen hair loss.
The new study corresponds to the results of a number of previous works. A meta-analysis of nine interventional studies involving 4,114 users of GLP-1 drugs published in May 2026 found a statistically significant increase in the risk of hair loss compared to placebo. The overall incidence of hair loss among patients receiving such drugs was about 3.9%. At the same time, the authors of the meta-analysis noted the need for further research due to the relatively small number of available clinical works.
Another systematic review from 2026 also concluded that reports of hair loss on the background of GLP-1 therapy require more careful study, since possible causes may include both the effects of the drugs and rapid weight loss, dietary changes, and deficiencies of certain trace elements.
The authors of the new paper emphasize that the observed effect is moderate, and its clinical significance has not yet been definitively established. The results are not a reason to independently stop the prescribed GLP-1 therapy. In case of noticeable hair loss, it is advisable for patients to discuss the situation with the doctor treating them.
