The Role Of Vitamins And Minerals In Hair Loss: Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?

It’s happening. It’s happening. You can see more hair in your brush, clogged up in the drain, and scattered on the floor. Your scalp can see through your hair, which is the worst thing. You might be asking yourself, “WHY me?” You may blame your shampoo, the weather, etc. Hair loss is often caused by hair loss. The most common reason for excessive hair loss is due to issues within your body. The old saying, “You are what your body eats,” is true.

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, age, poor diet, stress, dandruff, and scalp conditions.

Hair needs nutrients to grow, thrive, and stay healthy. Although most people get their daily vitamins from their regular diets, certain vitamins can be more easily lost in the body. Some of these vitamins can cause hair loss in women.

Here are 5 common vitamin deficiencies that can lead to hair loss in women.

What Is A Vitamin Deficiency?

Vitamins are often referred to as vitamins, minerals, and lipids. This includes essential fatty acids such as Omega-3.

Vitamins are one of the six main categories of essential nutrients required for human survival. These are water, carbohydrates, proteins (amino acids), lipids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and vitamins ( Morris, 2021).

A healthy body depends on the proper balance of nutrients. Any one of these nutrients can cause a system malfunction. The body will move resources to ensure survival when this happens. Calcium, a mineral that keeps the heart beating, is required. Low calcium levels can cause calcium loss in the bones. Low iron levels can cause hair loss and damage to the scalp. Iron is essential for red blood cells carrying oxygen. Your body has iron reserves for more important functions ( Yu 2020; Ems 2021).

What Causes Vitamin Deficiencies?

Vitamin deficiencies can be caused by many factors, including (Guo 2017; Almohanna 2019).

• A diet (not eating a wide variety of healthy foods, eating too little, or avoiding whole food groups).
• A woman may lose blood due to an injury, illness, or menstruation.
• Conditions or diseases that prevent the absorption of nutrients
• Medications
• Smoking
• Alcoholism in excess

The average American’s diet contains enough nutrients to maintain healthy hair. Many foods are fortified in vitamins. It’s very rare for a person to become deficient in vitamins like selenium, biotin, and Vitamin C to the point that it causes hair loss (Almohanna 2019).

Research shows that hair loss is most commonly caused by the following nutritional deficiencies:

Vitamin Deficiencies That Cause Hair Loss

Vitamin D Deficiency Could Cause Hair Loss

How about indoor quarantine? You apply sunscreen even if you only go out for a few minutes. This is the reason for your hair loss. Vitamin D deficiency is the cause. It’s a Vitamin D deficiency. 

What is the connection between Vitamin D and hair fall? Vitamin D is crucial in natural hair growth by stimulating hair growth and strengthening existing follicles. Vitamin D also helps to maintain the hair’s life cycle and slow down premature graying. Vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss in women with chronic patterns.

How can you increase your Vitamin D levels?

• Sun exposure is the best way to get your daily Vitamin D requirements met. Get at least 15-30 minutes of sun exposure each day. It is best to do this at sunset and sunrise, not in the middle of the day. You shouldn’t apply sunscreen, even SPF 8. Your skin should be exposed to the sun. A tank top and shorts can be worn. This will ensure that you have enough Vitamin D.
• Vitamin D is found in fish, mushrooms, and fortified milk.
• Your doctor can recommend supplementation. Doctors recommend that you take 60,000 IU of Vitamin D every week to treat vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplements can contain between 100 and 200 IU, which is a good amount for healthy individuals.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Hair Fall

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that aids in the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells. These cells nourish your hair follicles. Your hair follicles, as opposed to the hair strand, are alive. You don’t feel any pain when your hair is cut, but that doesn’t hold true when you pull it out of its roots.

The papilla is the base of the follicle. It provides all the nutrients the follicle needs to grow and multiply. The papilla is a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to follicles. A deficiency in B12 can lead to hair falling out and prevent new hair from growing.

This could lead to hair loss or hair thinning.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause hair loss and premature gray hair. If you notice white hair and hair fall, it is a sign you are Vitamin B12 deficient.

You may feel dizzy, tired, depressed, low energy, anxious, or dehydrated if you don’t have enough B12. You may also experience pale skin, mood swings, pins and needles, and blurred vision.

How can I treat Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Get yourself checked. Your doctor may recommend an oral dose of B12, depending on your blood levels. You must consume foods with a sufficient amount of B12. These vitamins are only found in a small number of foods. There are no plants that can provide them. Dairy, eggs, tuna, and shrimp are all rich in B12. If you are vegetarian, dairy and eggs will be your main source of B12. Vegans must supplement or receive a daily B12 injection to meet their daily needs.

Also, Vitamin B12-deficient people are also more likely to be iron deficient. This is pernicious and. This leads us to the second type of deficiency, which can cause hair loss.

Iron Deficiency Can Cause Hair Loss  

According to dermatologists, iron deficiency is the leading cause of hair loss for women. Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. They aid in transporting oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and organs of your body.

Hemoglobin is the first to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your essential organs if you have iron deficiency. This means that hemoglobin won’t deliver oxygen and nutrients to your body first, so your hair follicles and papilla will not receive them. Iron deficiency may play a similar role in hair loss to male pattern baldness, according to studies. [source]

Other signs of iron deficiency are pale skin, breathlessness, and cold hands and feet.

You should not take iron supplements without medical supervision, Even if iron deficiency is present. Your doctor will prescribe the supplement. If necessary, you can also treat the root cause. Combine it with a Vitamin C supplement or Vitamin C-rich foods such as orange juice, sweet lime, capsicum, and papayas. This will increase iron absorption.

Iron-rich Indian foods include halim seeds (halim water), poha and murmure, sesame seed, bajra flour (masoor daal), moong daal (chawli), and gram flour (gram flour), and chawli (black-eyed peas). Red meat, poultry, and seafood are all iron-rich, as well as dark leafy vegetables, beans, and chia seeds.

Biotin Deficiency Can Cause Hair Loss  

Biotin is the most popular solution to hair loss and growth. It is also the best-supported vitamin for improving hair health. [source] The B vitamin biotin, which is found in nearly all hair vitamins, is highly recommended by dermatologists. Biotin is not effective in treating hair loss due to deficiency. It can’t be used to treat hair falls caused by hormonal imbalances or childbirth.

How does biotin benefit your hair? Biotin is a substance that converts nutrients to energy. It is essential for DNA repair and rebuilding tissues. Vitamin B2 significantly increases keratin infrastructure. This stimulates hair growth and makes them appear shinier. Biotin can also strengthen nails and prevent them from breaking.

How can you increase your biotin level?

• Biotin can be supplemented. You can supplement with biotin in the following dosages: 5 mg to 10 mg. 
• Natural sources are best for your daily vitamin requirements, as they are for all vitamins. Some rich in biotin include beef, eggs, and salmon, as well as avocados, sunflower seeds, spinach, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, and milk.

Hair Loss Can Be Caused by Folic Acid Deficiency

Folic acid can play a major role in a woman’s glow during pregnancy. Folic acid is essential for healthy cell growth. A high level of prenatal vitamins is common. This is one reason pregnant women have shiny hair and a healthy glow.

Folate is also essential for the production of RBCs. These carry oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body, including the hair follicles. Without them, hair cells can’t produce the building block of hair, keratin. Folic acid supplementation or increased intake can promote hair growth as well as prevent premature graying. [source]

How can you ensure your body has enough folate? Supplements? This is something we wouldn’t recommend. Diet is the best way to increase your folate levels, just like iron. Supplements should not be taken without a doctor’s approval. Indian foods rich in folic acid include rajma and masoor dal.

How To Treat A Vitamin Deficiency

These vitamin deficiencies are the most common causes of hair loss.

There are many other vitamins and minerals that can also impact the quality and health of your hair. Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E should be included in a balanced diet to prevent hair loss and baldness.

It is not a matter of taking too many vitamins or minerals to make you feel better. You should seek professional assistance if you suspect your hair loss may be due to a deficiency of vitamins. 

Conclusion

Healthy hair, mind, and body can be achieved by eating a healthy diet that includes vitamins and minerals. To find out if your hair loss could be caused by a vitamin deficiency or other factors, consult your doctor. Your hair could be thinned by eating more healthy foods and cutting out the unhealthy.

If all that fails, you can try a hair loss treatment.