Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies in Hair Loss Among Indian Participants: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study
January 2017
in “
International Journal of Trichology
”
nutritional deficiencies iron deficiency vitamin D deficiency vitamin B12 deficiency folic acid deficiency amino acid deficiencies telogen effluvium male-pattern hair loss female-pattern hair loss histidine deficiency leucine deficiency valine deficiency alanine deficiency alopecia iron vitamin D vitamin B12 folic acid TE MPHL FPHL
TLDR Most Indian people with hair loss in the study lacked nutrients, especially iron.
In 2016, a cross-sectional study involving 100 Indian participants suffering from hair loss was conducted to examine the relationship between nutritional deficiencies and hair loss. The study found that 80% of the participants had nutritional deficiencies, with iron deficiency being the most common at 40%. Other deficiencies included vitamin D (38%), vitamin B12 (28%), and folic acid (25%). Additionally, participants showed varied amino acid deficiencies across all types of hair loss, including telogen effluvium (TE), male-pattern hair loss (MPHL), and female-pattern hair loss (FPHL). Histidine, leucine, valine, and alanine deficiencies were common across alopecia subtypes. The study concluded that nutritional deficiencies were prevalent among participants with hair loss, suggesting a potential link between nutrition and hair health, and a need for identification and correction of these deficiencies in patients with hair loss.