Long Island 
Most of us, of a certain age, remember being told to take our Flintstones. Those chewable, bitter, iron-flavored vitamins shaped like cartoon characters are a far cry from the multivitamins available today – often disguised as soft gummies and bright fruit flavors. But one thing remains true, if you want to avoid hair loss then you might need to consider a daily vitamin.
In fact, Mom was right in general: Daily vitamins can help contribute to your overall health. It does not hurt that vitamins can also keep your hair from falling out. A multi-vitamin alone might not stop all your hair loss, but it could help… especially if you are deficient in one of the many vitamins that contribute to healthy hair growth.
What Vitamin Am I Deficient in If My Hair Is Falling Out?
According to the American Association of Retired People (AARP), ““In general, as we get older our ability to absorb many nutrients – vitamins and minerals and other bioactive components of foods – tends to wane.” Howard D. Sesso, director of nutrition research and an associate epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said combined with a decreasing appetite this can mean older adults are lacking many nutrients they need.
The idea that we can get everything we need from our diet changes as we get older. In fact, there are nine different nutrients that Sesso believes people are often lacking and several of them are important to your hair – including Vitamins D and B12. He also suggests people may need more water and more protein.
How Do Vitamins & Minerals Help With Hair Health?
Vitamin B12 is important for creating blood cells, according to WebMD. So, what does that have to do with hair loss? Healthy blood flow is one key to healthy hair. Your blood needs to be healthy and full of nutrients to feed the hair follicle. If your blood is not circulating well – because you do not consume enough water, or you are missing key nutrients like Vitamin D and protein – then your hair will not have the building blocks it needs to grow.
When it does not have the vitamins and minerals it needs, hair may go into the resting phase too soon. That’s referred to as Telogen Effluvium.
Vitamin deficiencies can convince your body to concentrate more on keeping you alive than keeping you looking your best. For men, some top vitamin deficiencies to be concerned about are:
- Vitamin D (calciferol)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
According to The Independent Pharmacy, women may also see B12 deficiencies but usually suffer from low iodine or iron. Both groups need more calcium.
Can Supplements Help Grow Hair?
Yes, maybe. There are a lot of supplements out there that have not been scientifically tested and, since they are very loosely regulated, just any supplement is not necessarily going to help with your hair loss. Additionally, the type of hair loss you suffer from is also going to make a huge difference in whether supplements work for you.
But if your nutritional habits are partially responsible for your hair loss, then supplements will help. If you think you have a vitamin deficiency, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor. That said, almost everyone can benefit from taking a good multivitamin.
There are some vitamins which are stored in the fatty tissue of our bodies, like Vitamin A and K. So, it is possible to get too much of these… but it is not a common problem. It is far more likely that you need to be taking vitamins. Depending on your age, you may also need to get more protein.
Questions Hair Loss? LA FUE Hair New York Is Ready to Help
We are probably going to agree with your mom and tell you to take your vitamins, but that is only the beginning. At LA FUE Hair New York, we are ready to help you identify the cause of your hair loss and, if possible, stop it. Book your appointment with Dr. Anton today.