Supplementary Material for: Association Between Serum Trace Elements and Telogen Effluvium: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

March 2026 in “ Figshare ”

figshare admin karger, Ahmed A., Meshari Alali, Alahmadi Khalid Mohammed M, Alghamdi S., Khawaji Z., Humedi A., Alqurashi Nada S.

telogen effluvium serum trace elements zinc copper vitamin D serum ferritin nutritional interventions

TLDR Low ferritin and vitamin D levels are linked to hair loss.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between serum trace elements and telogen effluvium (TE), focusing on zinc, copper, and vitamin D levels in TE patients compared to healthy controls. Out of 372 papers, 29 were included, with the majority of TE patients being female. The meta-analysis found significantly lower serum ferritin and vitamin D levels in TE patients, suggesting a strong association between these deficiencies and TE. Despite high heterogeneity, the study highlights the importance of trace element imbalances in hair loss and recommends personalized nutritional interventions and standardized diagnostic protocols to improve clinical outcomes.

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