While folic acid is essential in supporting healthy hair growth, it is not the only vitamin or supplement that benefits both the hair and skin. Rather, it's best to choose hair care supplements that include additional hair-boosting ingredients, such as B complex, vitamin B12 and biotin.
According to Dr Chaturvedi, folic acid helps to promote hair growth, add volume and even reduce the rate of premature greying—it does so by amping up the body's cell production processes. “If you're deficient in folate, taking supplements may result in the growth of new hair in some patients,” Dr Gupta agrees.
No interactions were found between Biotin Forte with Zinc and folic acid. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
The Center for Disease Control recommends taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily to help with hair follicle production and healthy, full hair. And even though the vitamin is safe to take, Dr. Zeichner recommends talking to your primary care doctor before starting any new medications or vitamins.
If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine. These birth defects are neural tube defects or NTDs. Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs.
Biotin also helps the body convert food into energy and carry nutrients throughout the body. It is useful in preventing gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy). Folic acid helps in forming red blood cells. It prevents and treats anaemia and folate deficiency.
Just as getting the right nutrients helps keep your skin and internal organs healthy, nutrients can affect your hair growth too. Folic acid (vitamin B-9), when taken regularly as recommended, is just one of the nutrients that can promote overall healthy hair.
Consume tablets every day and you will notice an improvement in your hair's growth and health within two to three months. Important Note: Consult your doctor before taking any vitamin supplements.
Biotin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a complex B vitamin that is often touted for having hair growth benefits. And some of that hype may actually be worth it. Biotin has functions in “creating red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles,” says Dr. Green.
Folic acid can help to promote hair growth and reduce the rate of premature greying in those with folic acid deficiency.
In addition, folic acid induced PPARγ expression and triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Our results suggest that excess folic acid may exacerbate weight gain, fat accumulation, and inflammation caused by consumption of a HF diet.
For healthy hair and stronger nails, there is a natural alternative to biotin — silica.
A biotin supplement can help correct a biotin deficiency and restore hair health and growth. No strong evidence supports using biotin supplements or biotin-added hair products to promote hair growth in non-deficient people.
The amount of biotin suggested for hair growth usually ranges between 100 - 1,000 micrograms (mcg) daily, but this number varies based on your body's reaction to biotin.
There is no need to take the supplement at a specific time of day or with a meal. However, developing a habit, such as taking a prenatal vitamin every morning with breakfast, may make it easier to remember to take folic acid.
Folic acid usually starts to work in a few hours. But if you're taking it for folate deficiency anaemia, it may be a few weeks before you start to feel better. It's important to keep taking your folic acid for as long as it's recommended.
When the baby is developing early during pregnancy, folic acid helps form the neural tube. Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida). The neural tube forms the early brain and spine.
While biotin is one of the more popular supplements for hair, skin, and nails, the research supporting its benefits for people with adequate biotin intake is limited ( 2 ). Similarly, research is inconclusive on whether folate and vitamin B12 are effective for hair growth in people with adequate intakes ( 2 , 3 ).
Do not take your folic acid within 2 hours before or after taking indigestion remedies (antacids containing aluminium or magnesium), as they may stop the folic acid being properly absorbed.
Your body needs vitamin B-12, also called cobalamin, and folate, also called folic acid, to function normally. Both nutrients play important roles in creating red blood cells and making DNA and RNA to help build cells. B-12 also helps your nervous system function as it should.
Biotin: Biotin is one of the most extensively used supplements for faster hair growth. It synthesizes the glucose and further break down the proteins into the amino acids. Our hair contains keratin (a protein) which makes our hair strong and also stimulates the hair growth.