While going grey is often seen as a sign of ageing, many people go to great lengths to combat it. From hair dyes and highlights to avoiding sun damage, there's a number of products and habits employed to resist the natural shift in hair colour.
However, scientists say an antioxidant found in vegetables can "suppress" the greying process in hair. The research team from Nagoya University in Japan, led by Masashi Kato and Takumi Kagawa, identified luteolin - an antioxidant present in veggies such as celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers - as a potential anti-grey agent.
Many of these vegetables can be snapped up for less than £1 at supermarkets, including a bag of carrots from Tesco at the moment available for just 69p. The study examined three antioxidants - luteolin, hesperetin, and diosmetin - to evaluate their anti-greying effects on mice bred to go grey like humans.
They discovered that mice given luteolin maintained their black fur, even while their cage mates' fur turned grey. This was true whether the luteolin was administered externally or internally.
The study, which you can read here, was carried out in late 2024 but its findings remain relevant today and offer hope for people who want to retain their hair colour as they get older. Professor Kato expressed his surprise at the findings, stating: "This result was surprising, While we expected that antioxidants may also have anti-greying effects, only luteolin, not hesperetin or diosmetin, demonstrated significant effects. This finding suggests that luteolin may have a unique medicinal effect that prevents greying."
Luteolin's ability to combat greying is intimately connected to its effect on endothelins - proteins essential for cell-to-cell communication. The study found that luteolin treatments maintained the expression of endothelins and their receptor.
This maintenance supports vital signalling pathways, halting the drop in melanocyte function that usually accompanies greying hair. Prof Kato noted: "Interestingly, luteolin had limited effects on hair cycles, indicating that its primary impact is on pigmentation rather than hair growth or shedding.
"This targeted action makes luteolin a particularly intriguing candidate for addressing age-related hair greying." The researchers emphasise that the parallels between how hair greys in the test mice and in people provide promising potential for adapting these discoveries for human use.
Beyond vegetables, luteolin is currently obtainable as a supplement for both topical and oral consumption, positioning it as a practical option for further advancement as an anti-greying remedy. As studies continue, this antioxidant may emerge as a crucial component in hair care ranges designed to help hold back those silver strands as we age.
The findings might also pave the way for wider uses of luteolin in age-related science. Dr Kagawa remarked: "It would be interesting to investigate whether luteolin's anti-aging effects could also be applicable to other age-related changes, including balding."
