Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in hair loss among Indian participants: Results of a cross-sectional study
January 2017
in “International Journal of Trichology”
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.
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