Between TV and social media, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with ads touting vitamins for hair growth…but do they really work? Bottom Line Personal turned to Brian Abittan, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York, to find out.
Vitamins A, C, D, biotin and niacin, as well as the minerals zinc, iron and selenium, are among the most important nutrients for hair growth. Deficiencies in these nutrients can impact hair growth, strength and texture. Depending on your unique symptoms—many of the deficiencies associated with hair loss also affect other functions in the body—it may be worthwhile to have your health-care practitioner check your levels. Correcting deficiencies might be a component of treating hair loss.
While any deficiency can have an impact on your hair, three particular vitamins are important…
Biotin—also known as vitamin B-7—plays an important role in the formation of the protein keratin, which keeps hair, nails and skin healthy and strong. People who have hair loss and are deficient in biotin might benefit from taking supplements. But—there are no studies showing that people with normal biotin levels have improved hair growth by taking biotin supplements.
Vitamin D is a very common deficiency in the US because there are very few natural sources other than sun exposure. Vitamin D plays an important part in hair growth (as well as in forming bone), and deficiencies can impact your locks. But generally speaking, you would have to have a low level of vitamin D for at least several weeks for that to happen. If a blood test reveals that you are vitamin D–deficient, your doctor may suggest supplements. A slightly low vitamin D level is unlikely to be the main cause of hair loss and, by the same token, correcting a mild vitamin D shortfall that has been present for only a short time may not correct the problem.
Iron deficiency can influence hair loss. People who are anemic and have low iron levels should have a medical evaluation to find the cause of their iron deficiency. Once that is established, iron supplementation may be part of an overall treatment plan. Caution: Do not start to take iron supplements without consulting your health-care provider—high doses can cause constipation, upset stomach and more serious health problems
Whether talking about hair vitamins for men or hair vitamins for women, there’s not much data showing that vitamin supplementation helps hair growth in people with normal vitamin levels. In fact, many of the products advertised to help with hair loss or to grow thicker hair are not backed by clinical trials demonstrating their efficacy. While this doesn’t mean that they aren’t effective, it does mean that doctors don’t have evidence to lean on when making recommendations. On the other hand, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence showing that supplements may play some role in increasing hair density and growth. So they might be worth a try. In general, products that have been well-tested and have scientific data are the best ones to consider.
Important: While most of these products are generally fine for people in good overall health, review them with your physician before taking them to go over any possible side effects—some could influence lab test results for thyroid levels and cardiac enzymes—and potential interactions with any medications you’re taking.
Key point to keep in mind: When treating hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia, health-care providers focus on multifaceted treatments. While vitamin supplementation can be helpful, doctors usually consider other modalities of treatment as well, such as topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, platelet-rich plasma injections and hair transplantation. Also, there are many types of hair loss that are not impacted by vitamin levels at all—that is another reason to seek the advice of a specialist.
