Are you having problems with thinning hair or hair loss? If so, it could be because you have too much zinc in your diet. There have been many studies that show how too much zinc can lead to hair loss and other issues.
Just as too little zinc may impair the immune system, too much zinc may do the same thing. While too little zinc may negatively impact hair growth, some research also suggests that consuming excess zinc can lead to hair shedding or hair loss.
But more is not always better, so it is important to understand that excess supplements can actually CAUSE hair loss. High doses of selenium, vitamin A, D and zinc can be dangerous for hair. Also creatinine. Watch your supplements and do not take large doses!
Adverse effects of high zinc intake include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and headaches. Intakes of 150–450 mg of zinc per day have been associated with such chronic effects as low copper status, altered iron function and reduced immune function.
Deficiencies in vitamin D and zinc are significantly associated with increased risk of alopecia areata, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of supplementation. The role of copper in alopecia areata remains inconclusive, with studies showing mixed results regarding its serum levels in patients.
Vitamin D toxicity, although rare, can occur from high intake of supplements over an extended period. This toxicity can result in a range of health issues, including hair loss, as the body struggles to regulate the nutrient's effects on various bodily systems.
Chelation is a process that removes excess metals, such as zinc, copper, or lead, from the body. During this treatment, a doctor gives the person a drug that helps bind the excess zinc and remove it from the body through the urine.
Research has shown that less than 40 mg a day is a safe amount to take over time, but researchers are not sure what happens if more is taken over a long period. Additional concerns have been raised about combining multivitamins and additional zinc supplements and an increased risk of dying from prostate cancer.
The National Institutes of Health considers 40 mg of zinc a day to be the upper limit dose for adults and 4 mg of zinc a day for infants under age 6 months.
Vitamin D is essential for creating the cells that develop into hair follicles. It also supports healthy bones and your immune system. If you have hair loss and low vitamin D levels, your doctor may recommend vitamin D supplements. Iron.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
Nurturing Your Hair with Zinc
It's not just a nutrient for our dietary needs, but a cornerstone in the foundation of healthy hair. Zinc is a key player in the production of DNA and RNA, essential for the division of hair follicle cells that leads to healthier hair growth.
Studies show that too much vitamin A can contribute to hair loss, as can too much selenium, although more studies are needed to establish the latter relationship. Alopecia areata (AA) occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicle. Studies have shown a relationship between AA and low vitamin D levels.
There are, however, dangers in taking too much zinc. Beyond the possible side effects that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion and headaches, too much zinc can actually damage the very cells in the retina that you are trying to protect.
There have been many studies that show how too much zinc can lead to hair loss and other issues. Why is this? Even though we need to have a certain amount of zinc in our diets, there are many problems that can arise, including hair loss, if we have too much.
Results. The reductions of body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly higher in the zinc group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.032, 0.025, 0.003, and 0.0001, respectively).
Lower concentrations of both vitamin D3 and zinc could be used for effective treatment, thus reducing possible side effects from vitamin D3 and zinc. Vitamin D3 and zinc in combination may be a promising and cheap option to treat dysregulated immune response in various conditions.
Iron can have a negative effect on zinc absorption, if given together in a supplement, whereas no effect is observed when the same amounts are present in a meal as fortificants. Cadmium, which is increasing in the environment, also inhibits zinc absorption.
A visible scalp through your hair can be a sign that it's thinning (but not always). The factors that contribute to thinning hair (and thus a visible scalp) include stress, diet, vitamin deficiency and ageing.
A Biotin deficiency can cause brittle hair and hair thinning. Biotin supports the production of keratin, a protein that makes up the hair, skin and nails. While Biotin is found in various foods, such as eggs, nuts and seeds, a deficiency can still occur, leading to hair loss.