The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review

The 2018 review article examined the role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss, particularly in non-scarring alopecia. It found that deficiencies in micronutrients like vitamin D and iron, especially in females, are associated with conditions such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium (TE), and supplementation is often recommended. However, there is insufficient evidence to support supplementation of other nutrients like zinc, riboflavin, folic acid, or vitamin B12 in deficiency cases. Excessive intake of vitamin A and selenium might contribute to hair loss, but more research is needed. For alopecia areata (AA), low vitamin D levels were related, and supplementation was suggested if levels were low. Biotin supplementation was not supported by evidence for treating AA and could interfere with lab tests. The review also noted the potential role of certain nutrients in premature graying of hair and emphasized the need for large double-blind placebo-controlled trials to determine the effects of specific micronutrient supplementation on hair growth in individuals with deficiencies.