Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Related to Vitamin D, Zinc, and Ferritin Deficiencies and the Associated Risk of Hair Loss in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

The study surveyed 985 participants in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, to assess their knowledge and practices concerning vitamin D, zinc, and ferritin deficiencies and their potential risk for hair loss. While 95.2% of participants had heard about these minerals and 74.0% believed a deficiency could lead to hair loss, only 34.9% had daily sun exposure and 35.4% reported using supplements. The study found that knowledge about these nutrients was higher in participants who had heard about them, and supplement use was higher in older participants. Males were more likely to be physically active and have higher sun exposure, while females were more likely to use sunblock and take supplements. Despite the majority believing in the association between these deficiencies and hair loss, daily sun exposure and dietary intake of vitamin D and mineral-rich foods had no significant association with hair loss. The study concluded that while awareness and knowledge about these deficiencies are important, the practice of preventive measures is lacking.