Chemical used to cook McDonald’s fries could cure baldness | The Bellingham Herald

OK guys, before you go racing off to a drive-through near you, read this carefully:

Japanese scientists have found that a chemical used to cook McDonald’s french fires may help cure hair loss, according to a story by the Daily Record.

First of all, it “may” help, and secondly, the chemical that appears to help is used to cook the fries – it’s not in the fries, themselves. Please don’t order two large fries on your way home tonight hoping to grow a full head of hair (or at least don’t blame us if you do).

A chemical called dimethylpolysiloxane – that’s 20 letters, in case you’re counting – is found in silicone that is added to the oil to cook fries to prevent the oil from bubbling and spitting.

According to the researchers, the ingredient was successful in helping cure hair loss in bald mice, and they’re hopeful it could do the same for humans.

According to the EveningStandard.com, when hair follicles were cultured in the chemical, they grew 5,000 hair follicle germs simultaneously. The follicle germs were then transplanted into bold mice, who began to sprout fur within days.

The scientists told the The Mirror preliminary tests suggest the technique could work in humans, because it allows oxygen to easily pass through it.

“This simple method is very robust and promising. We hope this technique will improve regenerative therapy to treat hair loss such as androgenic alopecia,” Prof Junji Fukuda, of Yokohama National University told The Mirror.

Needless to say, social media has been buzzing about the discovery, even if the study had nothing to say about how large quantities of fries can also make your waistline grow: