Vidya, a manufacturer of probiotics and herbal extracts, has debuted Biotical GH, which combines the company’s saw palmetto extract, Vi-Spo, with a trio of spore-based probiotics to target the hair microbiome. This formulation taps into the emerging science of the gut-hair axis, a pathway linking microbiome balance and follicular function, the company said.

“We are proud to be the first and only company to have conducted a placebo-controlled clinical trial focused specifically on the hair microbiome as an ingestible,” said Aleksander Richards, director of clinical R&D at Vidya.

In the randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study that involved 20 men and 40 women ages 25-65, Biotical GH reportedly delivered a 30% increase in hair density and a 25% increase in follicular unit count after 24 weeks with a 395 mg daily dose. The product also demonstrated beneficial shifts in the scalp microbiome, according to the company.

“It’s not just about adding ‘good bacteria’ — it’s about fostering a dynamic, adaptable ecosystem that resists pathogen overgrowth and helps maintain scalp homeostasis,” Richards added. “This study showed that Biotical GH does just that.”