Low Iron Stores: A Risk Factor for Excessive Hair Loss in Non-Menopausal Women

The study involving 3,759 non-menopausal women aged 35 to 60 years found that low iron stores, indicated by serum ferritin levels below 40 µg/L, are significantly associated with excessive hair loss. Women with excessive hair loss were more likely to have low iron stores compared to those without, with 59% of women with excessive hair loss having low iron levels versus 48% without hair loss. The results support the "threshold hypothesis," which posits that lower iron stores may reduce the threshold for developing alopecia. The study suggests that serum ferritin levels should be monitored in women experiencing excessive hair loss and that the optimal levels for preventing hair loss may be higher than those currently recommended for anemia treatment. Further research is needed to clarify the role of the critical iron status level of 40 µg/L in hair loss etiology.