Liquid Protein Diets and Telogen Effluvium: A Case Report

The document reports a case of telogen effluvium, a form of hair loss, associated with a liquid protein diet in a 21-year-old female patient. The patient had previously attempted to lose weight through conventional methods without success and was prescribed a liquid protein diet by a physician. The diet consisted of a daily intake of 180-200 calories and 45-50 grams of amino acids from a solution containing collagen hydrolysate and other ingredients. Despite initial weight loss and adherence to the diet, the patient experienced significant hair shedding three months into the diet, with no other apparent cause for alopecia. The hair loss continued for about two months after discontinuing the diet but eventually ceased when the patient returned to a normocaloric diet. This case highlights the potential adverse effects of crash diets, particularly liquid protein diets, on hair health and the importance of medical supervision during such treatments.