TRX2

Last updated
TRX2
Inception2011
Manufacturer Oxford BioLabs
AvailableAvailable
Website oxfordbiolabs.com
Notes
Dietary supplement

TRX2 is a dietary supplement marketed for individuals with hair loss. It is manufactured and sold by Oxford BioLabs in the United Kingdom, [1] [2] [3] marketed in 2011.

Contents

Etymology

The name TRX2 is said to be derived from the Ancient Greek word trichos, meaning hair and the number 2 stands for second generation. [4] The proper word for hair in Ancient Greek is however thrix (θρίξ). [5]

Formulation

TRX2 contains amino acids and vitamins. Its ingredients are L-carnitine, L-tartaric acid, potassium chloride, L-leucine, isoleucine, valine, nicotinic acid, and biotin. [6]

Product description

The product is a dietary supplement, not a drug, and hence it doesn't need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [3] [7]

Clinical Studies

TRX2 has been tested by Oxford Biolabs in a clinical study. [8] In the study, 59 male and female volunteers showing signs of alopecia completed 18 months of therapy, receiving either TRX2 or a placebo.

The results of the study showed that 26 (out of a total 29) participants who had taken TRX2 recorded an increase of at least 10% in the number of hair strands in the evaluation area and/or a 10% increase in hair weight.

The third-party studies took place in 2019 and were conducted by the European Research Institute Dermatest.

Controversy

In January 2014 the UK Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint against TRX2 and Oxford Biolabs, citing that advertisements that the company had run for TRX2 were misleading and in breach of EU advertising codes. The company agreed and changed their advertising in line with the code of conduct. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

Biotin Chemical compound (vitamin B7)

Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is one of the B vitamins. It is involved in a wide range of metabolic processes, both in humans and in other organisms, primarily related to the utilization of fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids. The name biotin derives from the Greek word “bios” (to live) and the suffix “-in” (a general chemical suffix used in organic chemistry).

Dietary fiber Portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely digested

Dietary fiber or roughage is the portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely broken down by human digestive enzymes. Dietary fibers are diverse in chemical composition, and can be grouped generally by their solubility, viscosity, and fermentability, which affect how fibers are processed in the body. Dietary fiber has two main components: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, which are components of plant foods, such as legumes, whole grains and cereals, vegetables, fruits, and nuts or seeds. A diet high in regular fiber consumption is generally associated with supporting health and lowering the risk of several diseases.

Dietary supplement Product that provides additional source of nutrients

A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order to increase the quantity of their consumption. The class of nutrient compounds includes vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Dietary supplements can also contain substances that have not been confirmed as being essential to life, but are marketed as having a beneficial biological effect, such as plant pigments or polyphenols. Animals can also be a source of supplement ingredients, such as collagen from chickens or fish for example. These are also sold individually and in combination, and may be combined with nutrient ingredients. The European Commission has also established harmonized rules to help insure that food supplements are safe and appropriately labeled.

Herbal medicine Study and use of supposed medicinal properties of plants

Herbal medicine is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. There is limited scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of plants used in 21st century herbalism, which generally does not provide standards for purity or dosage. The scope of herbal medicine commonly includes fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts. Herbal medicine is also called phytomedicine or phytotherapy.

Chondroitin sulfate Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) compound

Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composed of a chain of alternating sugars. It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan. A chondroitin chain can have over 100 individual sugars, each of which can be sulfated in variable positions and quantities. Chondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage, and provides much of its resistance to compression. Along with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate has become a widely used dietary supplement for treatment of osteoarthritis, although large clinical trials failed to demonstrate any symptomatic benefit of chondroitin.

Pyridoxamine Chemical compound

Pyridoxamine is one form of vitamin B6. Chemically it is based on a pyridine ring structure, with hydroxyl, methyl, aminomethyl, and hydroxymethyl substituents. It differs from pyridoxine by the substituent at the 4-position. The hydroxyl at position 3 and aminomethyl group at position 4 of its ring endow pyridoxamine with a variety of chemical properties, including the scavenging of free radical species and carbonyl species formed in sugar and lipid degradation and chelation of metal ions that catalyze Amadori reactions.

Controversies regarding the use of human growth hormone (HGH) as treatment method have centered on the claims, products, and businesses related to the use of growth hormone as an anti-aging therapy. Most of these controversies fall into two categories:

  1. Claims of exaggerated, misleading, or unfounded assertions that growth hormone treatment safely and effectively slows or reverses the effects of aging.
  2. The sale of products that fraudulently or misleadingly purport to be growth hormone or to increase the user's own secretion of natural human growth hormone to a beneficial degree.
Nootropic Drug, supplement, or other substance that improves cognitive function

Nootropics are drugs, supplements, and other substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, attention, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.

Fish oil Oil derived from the tissues of oily fish

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors of certain eicosanoids that are known to reduce inflammation in the body and improve hypertriglyceridemia. There has been a great deal of controversy in recent years about the role of fish oil in cardiovascular disease, with recent meta-analyses reaching different conclusions about its potential impact. The most promising evidence supports supplementation for prevention of cardiac death.

The management of hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, includes prevention and treatment of hair loss, and regrowth of hair.

Bodybuilding supplements are dietary supplements commonly used by those involved in bodybuilding, weightlifting, mixed martial arts, and athletics for the purpose of facilitating an increase in lean body mass. Bodybuilding supplements may contain ingredients that are advertised to increase a person's muscle, body weight, athletic performance, and decrease a person's percent body fat for desired muscle definition. Among the most widely used are high protein drinks, pre-workout blends, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), glutamine, arginine, essential fatty acids, creatine, HMB, whey protein, ZMA, and weight loss products. Supplements are sold either as single ingredient preparations or in the form of "stacks" – proprietary blends of various supplements marketed as offering synergistic advantages.

Airborne (dietary supplement)

Airborne is an American brand of dietary supplement containing herbal extracts, amino acids, antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, and other ingredients originally marketed as preventing the common cold and improving immune function.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a synthetic derivative of the vinca alkaloid vincamine. Vincamine is extracted from either the seeds of Voacanga africana or the leaves of Vinca minor.

New England Biolabs

New England Biolabs (NEB) produces and supplies recombinant and native enzyme reagents for the life science research, as well as providing products and services supporting genome editing, synthetic biology and next-generation sequencing. NEB also provides free access to research tools such as REBASE, InBASE, and Polbase.

ConsumerLab.com, LLC. is a privately held American company registered in White Plains, NY. It is a publisher of test results on health, wellness, and nutrition products. Consumer Labs is not a laboratory, but contracts studies to outside laboratories. It purchases supplement products and other consumer goods directly from public storefronts and publishes reports based on the results. It primarily derives revenue from the sale of subscriptions to its online publications. Other sources of revenue include a proprietary certification program, licensing fees, contents re-publication license fees and advertising.

Omega-3 acid ethyl esters

Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are a mixture of ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid and ethyl docosahexaenoic acid, which are ethyl esters of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil. Together with dietary changes, they are used to treat high blood triglycerides which may reduce the risk of pancreatitis. They are generally less preferred than statins, and use is not recommended by NHS Scotland as the evidence does not support a decreased risk of heart disease. Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are taken by mouth.

Ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid

Ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid, sold under the brand name Vascepa among others, is a medication used to treat dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia. It is used in combination with changes in diet in adults with hypertriglyceridemia ≥ 150 mg/dL. Further, it is often required to be used with a statin.

Oxford BioLabs UK company

Oxford BioLabs is a UK based company focusing on the research and development of novel health & beauty therapies. It has received media attention for its hair growth product TRX2.

Thomas Whitfield is a British/German biochemist and entrepreneur. He is known for the dietary supplement TRX2 and his work on DesignTheTime.com.

Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 1994 statute of United States Federal legislation

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 ("DSHEA"), is a 1994 statute of United States Federal legislation which defines and regulates dietary supplements. Under the act, supplements are effectively regulated by the FDA for Good Manufacturing Practices under 21 CFR Part 111.

References

  1. Tyler, Richard (9 January 2011). "Thomas Whitfield's German roots help hair loss product launch". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. Tyler, Richard (16 January 2009). "Thomas Whitfield: The Oxford student who plans to make baldness a thing of the past". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 Edwards, Jim (12 January 2011). "Pharma's 4 Best Shots at a Cure for Baldness" (Web). CBSNews.com. CBS News. Retrieved 1 August 2012. it's actually just another dietary supplement and as such doesn't need to be approved by the FDA.
  4. "Oxford BioLabs". Oxford BioLabs. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  5. Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  6. "Carnipure" (Web). Lonza. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  7. "Minoxidil Alternatives" (Web). MPB Research. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  8. "TRX2® HAIR SUPPLEMENT CLINICAL STUDY" (Web). Oxford BioLabs. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  9. "ASA Adjudication on Oxford Biolabs Ltd". Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)