Vitamin deficiency due to hair loss (alopecia) may occur with deficiencies in vitamins B, D, C, and E, as well as with certain minerals like iron, selenium, and zinc.
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.
Several different vitamins and mineral deficiencies can cause hair loss. Examples include vitamin D, vitamin B, iron, and zinc. If your hair loss is due to vitamin deficiency, supplements may help restore hair growth. When taking a supplement for hair loss, it's important to stick to the recommended amount.
Nutritional deficiencies
Extreme diets that are too low in protein or certain vitamins, such as iron, can sometimes cause excessive hair shedding. A person should contact a doctor for a blood test to check whether they have a nutritional deficiency that could be causing their hair to fall out.
Iron. Iron deficiency is a very common form of deficiency and a major cause of hair loss. Iron helps create haemoglobin, which helps carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
Essential Blood Tests for Hair Loss
Vitamin B12 Test– Check for vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause brittle hair and hair loss. People who follow strict vegetarian or vegan diets or have digestive issues and those over 60 years old must take the Vitamin B12 test.
Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate protein, and a variety of medications.
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy hair. It aids in the production of keratin, a protein that forms the structural foundation of hair. Biotin supplementation can lead to improved hair thickness and reduced hair shedding.
Yes, hair can often regrow after addressing a vitamin deficiency. Once your body receives essential nutrients like biotin, vitamin D, iron, and zinc, it can support healthy hair growth.
Androgenic alopecia is generally used to describe female pattern hair loss, it is the most common cause of hair loss in women. It usually occurs after menopause because of an excess of androgens (“male hormones”) such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) caused by rapidly decreasing estrogen.
When deficiency disrupts vitamin D in your scalp, the anagen (growth) phase shortens. This prematurely pushes more resting follicles into the telogen (rest) phase. Excessive shedding occurs, resulting in thinner hair. Research clearly demonstrates this link.
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.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].
Furthermore, some individuals have reported symptoms such as nausea, bloating, and diarrhea. These are thought to be due to the large doses of vitamins found in Nutrafol. Others have found that Nutrafol may interact with other medications or medical conditions.
Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging.
Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.
It's perfectly normal to lose a few stray strands when running your fingers, or a comb, through your hair. But if you notice increased hair being pulled out when you are being gentle, this can be a cause of concern that you should get checked over.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): To check for anemia or infections, which can lead to hair loss. Ferritin: Measures stored iron levels in the body. Low ferritin is linked to hair thinning and hair fall.