Impact of Laboratory Workup and Supplementation on Alopecia Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Chart Review

This retrospective chart review of 131 patients with non-scarring alopecia at NYU's Faculty Group Practice found that 15.3% had abnormal laboratory results, with the most common deficiency being ferritin at 6.5%. Despite 32% of patients receiving supplementation for their specific deficiencies, multivariate regression analysis indicated that supplementation did not significantly affect hair density or diameter (P=0.73; P=0.96, respectively). Positive associations were found between baseline hair density and diameter and their respective changes, while the number of prescribed oral medications was negatively associated with change in hair diameter. The study suggests that vitamin supplementation may not improve outcomes in non-scarring alopecia, questioning the utility of laboratory testing for this condition. The study's limitations include its single-center, retrospective design and short follow-up interval, highlighting the need for further large-scale prospective studies.