Serum Ferritin and Vitamin D in Female Hair Loss: Do They Play a Role?

January 2013 in “ Skin Pharmacology and Physiology ”

Hoda Rasheed, Doaa Mahgoub, Rehab A. Hegazy, Mohamed H.M. El-Komy, Rania Abdel Hay, Mohsin Hamid, Enas Hamdy

serum ferritin vitamin D₂ chronic telogen effluvium female pattern hair loss iron deficiency vitamin D deficiency vitamin D TE FPHL

TLDR Low iron and vitamin D levels are linked to hair loss in women.

In 2013, a study involving 80 female patients with hair loss (42 with chronic telogen effluvium (TE) and 38 with female pattern hair loss (FPHL)) and 40 healthy controls found that both groups with hair loss had significantly lower serum ferritin and vitamin D₂ levels compared to controls. The study determined cut-off values for serum ferritin and vitamin D₂ for diagnosing TE and FPHL, with high sensitivities and specificities. Age, serum ferritin, and vitamin D were identified as significant independent risk factors for hair loss. The findings suggest that screening for and supplementing iron and vitamin D deficiencies may be beneficial for treating TE and FPHL, although further research is necessary to confirm these results.

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Research cited in this study

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