But it's not just about growing or not growing. Vitamin deficiency can become a “modifiable risk factor” in the development and prevention of hair thinning or alopecia, also known as hair loss. Vitamins help supply hair follicle structures, so not having enough can cause hair loss. Although rare, biotin deficiency can cause thinning and hair loss.
The average recommended daily intake of biotin for adults is 30 micrograms, and you'll find the vitamin in all types of supplements formulated to help hair, skin and nails. There's a lot of evidence to suggest that vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss. In this blog post, we'll look at some of that research and look at the possible causes of this problem. If you're experiencing hair loss, it's important to get your vitamin D levels under control as soon as possible.
This is because hair follicles go through a cycle and it can take some time for the effects of vitamin D deficiency to reach the follicles. In addition, vitamin D deficiencies have been associated with hair loss and are even implicated in the development of alopecia. Fortunately, the effects of malnutrition on your hair are reversible as long as you regain nutritional stability for 6 months or more. However, if you haven't been eating enough of these foods, you may be suffering from a biotin deficiency, which causes thin hair and brittle nails.
Your doctor can test you for vitamin deficiencies and other conditions that may be causing hair loss. More research is needed to determine if there is any benefit from supplementing with nutrients in the absence of a documented deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is a treatable condition, and if it's the cause of hair loss, increasing levels can help stop or prevent further hair loss. Screening tests are indicated for people with risk factors, since hair loss due to zinc deficiency can be reversed.
Although multiple nutrient deficiencies can cause hair loss (Table), the detection of such deficiencies should be guided by medical history and physical examination. Pellagra, due to a niacin deficiency, produces the well-known triad of photosensitive dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. Some people may experience hair loss within a few months of being deficient in vitamin D, while others may not see any effect for another year. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables and many foods are fortified with folic acid, making deficiency rare.
If hair loss is due to a vitamin D deficiency, taking a supplement or increasing exposure to sunlight may help. Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world and is a well-known cause of hair loss. In addition to increasing your vitamin D levels, there are a few other things you can do to help with hair loss due to vitamin D deficiency.
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