The Preventive Effect of Vitamin D3 on Radiation-Induced Hair Toxicity in a Rat Model

February 2006 in “ Life sciences ”

Bahar Baltalarlı, Ferda Bir, Neşe Çallı Demirkan, Gülçin Abban

vitamin D3 radiation-induced hair toxicity Gamma irradiation hair follicle count Vitamin D receptor VDR immunoreactivity radiation-induced alopecia vitamin D radiation hair loss radiation damage

TLDR Vitamin D3 may protect rat hair follicles from radiation damage.

In a study from 2006, researchers investigated the protective effects of vitamin D3 against radiation-induced hair toxicity in rats. Fourteen rats were exposed to 20 Gy Gamma irradiation on their dorsal skin and divided into two groups: one received irradiation alone (n=7), and the other received irradiation plus 0.2 micrograms of vitamin D3 intramuscularly (n=7). Fifty days later, the rats were examined for hair follicle count and Vitamin D receptor (VDR) immunoreactivity. The non-pretreated group showed a significant decrease in hair follicles within the irradiated area compared to non-irradiated skin (p=0.016), while the vitamin D3 pretreated group did not show a significant difference in hair follicle count between irradiated and non-irradiated areas (p=0.14). Additionally, the skin of the vitamin D3 pretreated group had stronger VDR immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that vitamin D3 may protect hair follicles from radiation damage, but further clinical trials are needed to confirm the preventive effects and determine the appropriate dosage and timing for treating radiation-induced alopecia.

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