Iraltone AGA Plus hair supplement: pharmacist's review
What is Iraltone AGA Plus and what does the "Plus" mean?
Iraltone AGA Plus is a hair supplement from Cantabria Labs formulated with standardised Serenoa repens extract, L‑cystine, zinc, biotin and selenium, aimed at androgenetic alopecia. The "Plus" is precisely the Serenoa repens: that is what differentiates it from standard Iraltone AGA and what targets the hormonal component of hair loss.
Quick summary
- Key difference vs Iraltone AGA: the Plus version includes Serenoa repens; the basic one does not.
- Who it's for: early or moderate androgenetic alopecia, in men and women.
- Dose: 2 capsules a day with food, minimum 3 months.
- When you notice it: less shedding at 6–8 weeks; density at 3–4 months.
- Side effects: uncommon and mainly digestive; I detail them below.
- With thyroid disease: check first — zinc and selenium need separating from levothyroxine.
It is one of the hair supplements I dispense most often, and also one of those I get the most specific questions about: side effects, compatibility with thyroid treatment and whether it really does anything different to standard AGA. Let's take it step by step.
Ingredients with evidence: what each one does
- Serenoa repens (saw palmetto): a partial natural inhibitor of 5‑alpha‑reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. The study by Rossi et al. (2012) compared Serenoa repens 320 mg with finasteride 1 mg over 24 months: 38% of patients improved with Serenoa versus 68% with finasteride, with a more marked effect at the vertex. Less potent than the medicine, but with a measurable effect.
- L‑cystine: a sulphur‑containing amino acid essential for the disulphide bridges in keratin, which give strength to the hair shaft.
- Zinc: has an authorised health claim for maintenance of normal hair, and is a cofactor in protein synthesis.
- Biotin: also has an authorised claim; its effect is clearer when there is a prior deficiency.
- Selenium: an antioxidant that contributes to protecting cells from oxidative damage.
The formula has a clear logic: tackle the hormonal component on one side and provide raw material to the follicle on the other. There are no filler ingredients, and in the world of hair nutricosmetics that is not common.
Who Iraltone AGA Plus suits – and who it doesn
Where it fits
- Mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia: its natural indication, especially if you are not yet ready to start finasteride.
- As a partner to topical minoxidil: different and complementary mechanisms. This is the combination I recommend most often.
- Women with an androgenetic pattern: diffuse thinning at the crown with widening of the central parting.
- Maintenance after intensive treatment: to help maintain what you have gained.
Where it is not the right tool
- Advanced androgenetic alopecia: where areas are already without follicles, no supplement will reverse that.
- Pure telogen effluvium: diffuse shedding due to stress or post‑partum. There you do not need Serenoa: standard Iraltone AGA or a nutritional supplement covers things better and more cheaply.
- Alopecia areata: an autoimmune process requiring a different approach.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Serenoa repens has hormonal activity. It is not recommended.
Iraltone AGA vs AGA Plus: the difference that matters
I am asked this every day, and the answer is simple: it depends on whether your hair loss has a hormonal component or not.
Iraltone AGA contains L‑cystine, zinc, biotin and selenium: it nourishes the follicle. Ideal for seasonal shedding, fragile hair or when blood tests show deficiencies.
Iraltone AGA Plus adds Serenoa repens, which makes it something else: a product aimed at androgenetic alopecia. If your pattern is receding temples, crown thinning or a parting that widens, the Plus version is the one that makes sense; paying extra without that pattern does not add anything for you.
If you plan to use it for several months, the 120‑capsule format covers two months of treatment. To reinforce things topically, the Iraltone anti‑hair loss lotion combines without any problem.
How to take Iraltone AGA Plus so it works
The dose is two capsules a day with a main meal. With food for two reasons: it improves absorption of the fat‑soluble components in the formula and helps avoid stomach discomfort that can appear when you take it on an empty stomach.
A minimum course of three months, and ideally six if you want to assess it properly. The follicular cycle does not negotiate: less hair in your brush around weeks 6–8, new hairs visible along the frontal line at 3–4 months, and perceived density improving between month four and six. Always take a photo in natural light on day one.
Side effects and contraindications
This is the search that brings in most traffic for this product, so I will be direct. The safety profile is good and adverse effects are uncommon:
- Mild digestive discomfort: the most usual — heaviness or nausea if taken on an empty stomach. It settles when you take it with food.
- Occasional headache: described with Serenoa repens, uncommon and transient.
- Skin reaction: rare, due to hypersensitivity to any component.
- Affecting blood tests: high‑dose biotin can interfere with some hormone assays and troponin tests. Mention it if you are having bloods done.
You should not take it during pregnancy or breastfeeding (because of the hormonal activity of Serenoa) or if you are hypersensitive to any of its ingredients.
Iraltone AGA Plus and thyroid disease
This question deserves its own section because I see it so often. There is no formal contraindication in thyroid disease, but there are two real precautions: zinc and selenium interfere with levothyroxine absorption, so doses need to be separated by at least four hours (levothyroxine on an empty stomach, Iraltone with food). And selenium participates in thyroid hormone metabolism, so if you already take another selenium supplement it is best not to duplicate.
The practical conclusion: with well‑controlled hypothyroidism and separated doses, you can usually take it. But discuss it with your endocrinologist or with us before starting, especially if you have autoimmune thyroiditis.
My opinion on Iraltone AGA Plus and how I combine it
Iraltone AGA Plus is one of the few hair supplements where I can point to a specific clinical trial behind its key active ingredient. That does not make it a medicine: in the reference study, Serenoa repens performs at around half the level of finasteride. But for people who do not want or cannot use finasteride, it is a well‑evidenced option.
This is how I usually approach it in practice: if androgenetic alopecia is confirmed and you want results, the combination that works best is topical minoxidil plus this supplement. If you are only going to do one thing, and your pattern is clearly androgenetic, minoxidil has stronger evidence — I compare options in my article on the 5 anti‑hair loss treatments with most evidence. And if you are still not sure what type of hair loss you have, start by reading about the causes of hair loss and how to treat them before spending any money.
If you have any questions about your specific case — medicines you take, thyroid issues, pregnancy — write to us or come into the pharmacy. We can usually sort it out in two minutes.
A hug from Cantabria,
Jorge Peláez
Pharmacist no. 1383 (Cantabria)
Iraltone AGA vs AGA Plus: objective differences
| Component | Iraltone AGA | Iraltone AGA Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) | No | Yes — standardised extract |
| L-cystine | Yes | Yes |
| Zinc | Yes | Yes |
| Biotin | Yes | Yes |
| Selenium | Yes | Yes |
| Ideal profile | Seasonal shedding, fragile hair | Androgenetic alopecia |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Consult | Not recommended |
Frequently asked questions
Scientific references
