Alopecia in Women with Severe and Morbid Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

The study examined the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, selenium, and protein-visceral in women with severe and morbid obesity who underwent bariatric surgery, focusing on the degree of hair loss 6 months post-surgery. It involved 87 women, divided into two groups based on hair loss severity: mild (n = 42) and severe (n = 45). Both groups experienced significant weight reduction, but those with mild hair loss had higher intakes of zinc (20.6 ± 8.1 mg/d) and iron (39.7 ± 35.9 mg/d) and better nutritional status for these minerals compared to the severe hair loss group. Conversely, the severe hair loss group had a better nutritional status for copper. No differences were found in plasma albumin concentrations. The study concluded that higher zinc and iron intake was associated with less hair loss post-surgery.