Your Hair, Your Bones, Your Blood — What the Research Says Today

Key Takeaways

• ✦A 52-week observational study found topical finasteride 0.25% improved hair density in postmenopausal women with minimal systemic absorption — but the study was small, retrospective, and had no placebo group, so it's promising, not proven.
• ✦Research on Cerasus humilis (dwarf cherry) proanthocyanidins showed bone-protective effects in animal models by improving how the kidneys handle calcium — interesting early science, but nowhere near a human recommendation yet.
• ✦A large Dutch study found that hemoglobin and ferritin levels follow daily and seasonal rhythms that differ by sex and age — and women over 50 showed patterns distinct from younger women, which could matter for how iron deficiency is diagnosed and interpreted.
• ✦Iron deficiency doesn't disappear after menopause stops monthly blood loss. Low ferritin in midlife women can still drive fatigue and brain fog, and this study suggests the timing of a blood draw may affect what the result actually shows.
• ✦All three studies are worth knowing about — and none of them are ready to change what you do tomorrow. Early research requires patience, and that's not a flaw; it's how the process is supposed to work.