Untangling The Link Between Gastroparesis, Micronutrient Deficiency, And Hair Loss

The study by Silver et al. highlights a significant association between gastroparesis and hair loss, with 143 patients showing a high prevalence of self-reported hair loss. The research suggests that micronutrient deficiencies, common in gastroparesis, may contribute to hair loss, although the exact mechanism is complex and not solely due to single vitamin deficiencies. Testing revealed that 47.5% of patients with hair loss had at least one micronutrient deficiency. A multivitamin supplement improved hair loss in approximately 40% of patients over 8 weeks, indicating a potential low-cost treatment. However, further research is needed to understand the full pathophysiology and to evaluate the effectiveness of multivitamin supplementation in a controlled setting.