What Types of Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Hair Loss?

September 30, 2019

Hair growth is controlled by a series of body functions and regulations, from cell replication to hormone secretion. Those functions are in turn linked to the intake of nutrients that the body synthesizes from food, so we have often heard how important it is to have a balanced diet for overall health. Some nutrient deficiencies due to poor diet or body imbalances can ultimately trigger hair loss. Here are the most common vitamin and nutrient deficiencies that could cause hair loss and the hair loss solutions you can implement.

Why Micronutrients Are Important for The Hair

Despite the fact that there is conflicting evidence about it, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are deemed important in the follicle cycle because they play a role in cell turnover (and therefore growth). Therefore, they play a role in non-scarring alopecia.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A has been shown to stimulate stem cells in the hair follicle. However, a deficiency in this vitamin hasn't been directly linked to hair loss, whereas an excess is thought to cause hair loss and other undesirable effects, such as bone and vision problems.

Vitamin B
The B complex includes vitamins that hold importance in hair loss and hair growth processes.

B2 (Riboflavin) helps cell generation and function, energy production, and the metabolism of fats. Its deficiency is rare, but it can cause hair loss.

B3 (Niacin) severe deficiency can cause diffuse hair loss and pellagra (a deficiency illness that can also cause dementia, dermatitis, diarrhea, and other serious complications). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is essential in a number of body processes, so its deficiency has a broad impact that encompasses hair loss. However, B3 deficiency has to be very serious for it to derive to pellagra. Hair loss induced by this vitamin deficiency does not come alone, and therefore can be easily diagnosed.

Biotin (B7) is one of the most popular hair growth supplements. This vitamin helps in metabolic processes that affect the hair follicle. Although it hasn't been proven that its deficiency causes hair loss, it has been found to be useful as supplementation in case of underlying pathologies that affect the hair.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is relevant to hair growth because it helps make red blood cells, which provide oxygen to feed the body, including the hair follicles. B12 hasn't been directly linked to hair loss, but its lack may affect the quality of hair.

Vitamin C
This one plays an important role in the absorption of iron, which is in turn vital to hair growth. Additionally, it is important to synthesize collagen, an important protein for the hair and the skin. Lack of vitamin C might not be related directly to hair loss, but it does affect other body functions that influence hair growth.

Vitamin D
Some studies have shown that vitamin D is important for the cycles of the hair follicle. During the growing phase, there is an increase in vitamin D receptors in outer keratinocytes. Also, it's been shown that women with female pattern baldness tend to show a lower serum level of D vitamin.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E has an antioxidant effect that protects hair from deterioration due to external factors. Regardless of pollution or even emotional stress, vitamin E has been proven to improve the number of hairs.

Iron
Iron deficiency is very common, and it is known to cause hair loss in the form of telogen effluvium and it seems to affect women more than men. Iron regulates some of the genes involved in cell division in the hair follicle. Some studies have shown that patients with hair loss tend to have lower serum ferritin. Whether iron deficiency is due to anemia or dietary habits, it must be addressed in order to ensure healthy hair growth.

Selenium
Selenium helps synthesize a number of proteins, among which there are important proteins to hair. This trace element plays a role in follicle morphogenesis. Selenium deficiency can be linked to sparse hair growth and loss of hair pigmentation. However, selenium over-supplementation can lead to hair loss and other complications.

Zinc
Zinc is extremely important in hair follicle morphogenesis and its lack can cause telogen effluvium and brittle hair. Patients with hereditary alopecia or telogen effluvium show lower concentrations of zinc in their system, which means there is a link between this mineral and the hair growth cycle.

Hair Loss Solutions for Vitamin Deficiencies

Hair supplements are widely popular and marketed everywhere by many different laboratories. Most of them have a combination of several of these micronutrients, and they have given good results in treating hair thinning when deficiencies are demonstrated by medical examination. When taken without a specific nutrient deficiency, their effects haven't been documented.

Medical examination is essential before attempting to use any hair loss supplementation successfully. Only a physician can determine whether this type of product can alleviate a hair thinning case or rather make it worse or throw other body functions into imbalance.
Diet can also provide an increased supply of the micronutrients you need to improve your hair growth. In our previous blog post "7 Essential Vitamins for Thinning Hair" you can find which foods contain the most important micronutrients for hair health.

So, if you were asking "What Types of Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Hair Loss?", there's the answer. Remember to always start taking hair growth supplements only under medical supervision and after a careful examination of all your possible hair loss triggers (Read "How to Get the Perfect Hair Loss Treatment for Women According to the Causes.") Adequate hair loss care is always welcome regardless of the cause of your hair thinning, and The Cosmetic Republic USA offers a wide variety of hair loss products to take special care of your frail hair. Call TOLL FREE 1-888-513-8815 or fill out the contact form on this website.
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