In order to prevent hair loss in men, one popular treatment is to use an inhibitor of the enzyme that converts testosterone to a different androgen (DHT). The inhibitors are steroids similar to testosterone that cannot be converted into DHT. How would you classify this type of inhibition?

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Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor molecule competes with the substrate for binding to the active site of an enzyme. In this case, the inhibitors are steroids similar to testosterone and compete with testosterone for binding to the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, thereby preventing the conversion. This is a classic example of competitive inhibition, as both the inhibitor and the substrate (testosterone) are competing for the same active site on the enzyme.

In Order to Prevent Hair Loss in Men, One Popular