Table Of Content
While such products contain a variety of nutrients, review of the medical literature finds a notable lack of evidence supporting their use. Much of what is known about nutrient effect on hair loss is based on disease states that result in deficiency. There is currently a lack of literature regarding the effects of supplementation in individuals without nutrient deficiency. For example, B7 is known as biotin, B2 is known as riboflavin, and B9 is known as folate or folic acid.
Foods with vitamin D
Fatigue could be a sign of serious vitamin deficiency - add this supplement now - Express
Fatigue could be a sign of serious vitamin deficiency - add this supplement now.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It's not typically recommended for women of reproductive age due to potential risks to a developing male fetus and may cause sexual side effects in some men. Hormonal fluctuations during menopause, pregnancy, or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also contribute to hair thinning. Most people can get the amounts of these vitamins they need by following a balanced diet, but in some cases, a doctor may recommend dietary supplements.
Dietary Changes
Some small, limited studies have found that certain supplements and shampoos could be helpful, dermatologists say. However, your best bet if you’re suffering from hair loss is to see a board-certified dermatologist who can determine what’s causing your alopecia and then recommend a treatment plan. If you don’t have a vitamin deficiency, taking high dosages of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium, may trigger hair loss. These findings led the researchers to recommend that all people with diffuse hair loss be tested for low vitamin D and iron levels (14). Vitamin deficiency can cause a range of symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and changes to your skin and hair.
An Overview of Vitamin Deficiencies That Cause Hair Loss
Biotin For Hair Growth, Explained: Do Supplements Really Work? - GLAMOUR UK
Biotin For Hair Growth, Explained: Do Supplements Really Work?.
Posted: Sat, 24 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Supplementing these deficient micronutrients can improve premature graying. “Infants are particularly at risk for vitamin K deficiency, which can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn,” says Gopal. Hence, ensuring an adequate intake of vitamin K through diet or supplements is crucial to preventing these complications and maintaining overall health.
Dozens of over-the-counter supplements and products purport to reverse hair loss, making it tough for patients to know which ones work and which don’t. Smoking has likewise been linked to the autoimmune condition alopecia areata, which causes hair loss (38). If you lose weight very fast, including from crash dieting or after bariatric surgery, you may also experience hair loss. Research has shown that the rapid weight loss often experienced among people following very low calorie, restrictive diets may also lead to hair loss (29, 30, 31, 32). Yet, hair loss that occurs 6 months after surgery and beyond may be caused by nutrient deficiencies that develop as a result of surgery-related malabsorption (26).
Despite this, patients often seek nutrient supplements as a treatment for hair loss. In fact, direct-to-consumer advertising promotes the use of supplements for hair loss, and many such products, containing a wide variety of formulations, are easily available for purchase. For other nutrients, such as zinc, supplementation in deficient patients has resulted in hair growth, although, again, patients must be monitored due to toxicity risk (Table 3). While multiple nutrient deficiencies may result in hair loss (Table 1), screening for such deficiencies must be guided by the history and physical exam. Nutrient deficiencies may arise due to genetic disorders, medical conditions, or dietary practices.
Here are the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to hair loss. Selenium is a mineral that your body needs in small (trace) amounts. Some research shows that selenium can help with hair loss, including among people who are getting chemotherapy. Sometimes, hair loss can be caused by getting too much of a certain vitamin or mineral.
Medical Professionals
There is no established upper limit for vitamin B12 intake, as it has a low potential for toxicity [22]. Acquired biotin deficiency can be due to increased raw egg consumption, where avidin particles attach to biotin and inhibit its absorption into the intestinal gut. The aforementioned medications interfere with biotinidase activity [34]. Evidence suggests that 50% of pregnant women are deficient in biotin [36]. Consumption of vitamin A exceeding the recommended daily limit of approximately 10,000 IU a day can lead to vitamin A toxicity.
Traction alopecia
Research suggests that when a person lacks Vitamin D, the most effective treatment is for them to take vitamin D supplements. A lack of sunlight or not eating enough foods rich in vitamin D are the most common causes of a vitamin D deficiency. People with a vitamin D deficiency may have no symptoms, or their symptoms may be nonspecific and change over time.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, you may want to be tested for deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, zinc, B vitamins, and copper. If you think that you may be experiencing hair loss due to a nutrient deficiency, talk with a healthcare professional. They may suggest you get a blood test to assess your micronutrient levels and rule out deficiencies. Researchers are still studying how iron deficiency causes hair loss, but it appears to disrupt hair growth by diverting iron stores in the hair follicle to other areas of the body (6). Blood tests can show signs of vitamin deficiency and can be used to measure your vitamin levels. A low red blood cell count or a pattern of enlarged red blood cells (megaloblastic anemia) is a common sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other non-hormonal tests include cardiac and tumor markers, infectious disease serologies, biomarkers of anemia and autoimmune diseases, and concentrations of immunosuppressive drugs [29–32]. Even if your hair loss is hereditary, there are treatments that exist that can help slow or reverse hair loss. If possible, talk with your doctor to address your concerns and rule out any serious underlying medical concerns that may be causing your hair loss. Whatever the cause of your hair loss, seeking medical attention from your primary care doctor or a dermatologist can help you identify underlying causes. Treatments for hair loss are more likely to be successful if started early.
Try to find ways to manage stress, and strive for a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you have healthy hair on the back or side of your head, a doctor can surgically remove hair strands from those areas and graft them into your scalp in a bare area. It’s another expensive treatment that isn’t generally covered by insurance, but it tends to be a long-lasting solution. A 2021 review of 15 studies — including several large randomized control trials that are the gold standard for medical research — found that laser therapy increased hair count in both men and women. You can either purchase over-the-counter laser devices to use at home or receive the treatments from a provider.
Deficiency mainly results in megaloblastic anemia, without manifestation of hair loss. Minimal information in the literature exists regarding benefits of vitamin E supplementation on hair loss. One study of 21 volunteers who received tocotrienol supplementation (100 mg of mixed tocotrienols daily) showed significant increase in hair number as compared to a placebo group [57]. In one patient with essential fatty acid deficiency, topical application of safflower oil, high in linoleic acid, resulted in growth of hair [44]. In a review of the literature, no studies regarding niacin levels in patients presenting only with hair loss were identified.
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