Serum Vitamin Levels in Different Categories of Androgenetic Alopecia Subjects
January 2012
in “
Vitamins & trace elements
”
TLDR Smoking and drinking can lower vitamin levels and potentially trigger early hair loss, but overall vitamin levels don't seem to affect hair loss duration.
In 2012, Ayobola Abolape Iyanda conducted a study to determine the relationship between serum vitamin levels and Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA). The study found no significant difference in vitamin levels between non-smoking/non-alcohol consuming AGA subjects and controls. However, smoking and alcohol-consuming subjects had significantly lower levels of vitamins A, C, E, and niacin. The study concluded that while there may not be a relationship between serum vitamin levels and the duration of alopecia, smoking and alcohol consumption could trigger AGA earlier in susceptible individuals. Deficiencies in Vitamin D and biotin, previously associated with alopecia, were not significantly different in alopecia groups compared to controls. The study also suggested that low levels of vitamins or their derivatives in the intracellular compartments of hair follicles might be necessary for normal hair growth processes.