Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies That Cause Hair Loss

can iron deficiency cause hair loss

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Iron deficiency anemia

The best way to treat hair loss is to address the underlying cause of the problem. If you think your hair loss is related to an iron deficiency, consult a doctor to measure your iron levels. Your doctor will most likely order a ferritin level blood test, which measures the levels of a protein called ferritin that helps store iron. Unlike male-pattern balding, women often experience an overall thinning, which maintains the normal hairline.’ Explains Dr Balwi. People experiencing female pattern baldness may also notice a general thinning of hair on the top of your head, but hair loss typically won’t occur on the front of your scalp, per Harvard Health. There are many causes of hair loss in both women and men, so if you’re concerned about it, your first step should be booking an appointment with a doctor to discuss your options.

vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Next, your doctor will order blood tests, including one called a complete blood count (CBC). This shows how many red blood cells you have, how big they are, and what shape they are. However, hair loss has many causes, including hormonal changes, stress, and infection.

Anemia Hair Loss: How an Iron Deficiency Can Affect Hair

Since tiredness is often considered a part of a busy, modern life, it’s difficult to diagnose an iron deficiency based on this symptom alone. This fatigue happens because your body lacks the iron it needs to make a protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen around your body. Eat a balanced diet with foods rich in iron, including meat, poultry, and fish. For people who prefer to get nutrients from plant-based sources, legumes and leafy greens like kale, broccoli, and collards are a great way to get iron. You’ll also find grocery store shelves lined with iron-fortified foods, including cereal, bread, and pasta. Doctors may use a ferritin test to check for the levels of iron in the body.

Hair loss treatment: Researchers pinpoint best supplements - Medical News Today

Hair loss treatment: Researchers pinpoint best supplements.

Posted: Tue, 06 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Of course, spinach is a good source of iron, along with many other foods like beans, lentils and raisins. Had it not been for that little error, spinach wouldn’t be so popular. ​Michelle Crouch is a contributing writer who has covered health and personal finance for some of the nation’s top consumer publications.

Well, it helps the cells convert stored food to a usable form of energy called ATP. Just like the car needs petrol or electricity these days, our cells need ATP to carry out key tasks such as growth and repair of tissues, powering muscles, pumping heart etc. By seeking proper testing, your doctor can lead you to appropriate treatment. Nonetheless, you can speed up the healing and regain healthy hair by changing your lifestyle and taking the proper supplement.

can iron deficiency cause hair loss

Moreover, researchers in this area also think that lower iron levels decrease the threshold for developing different types of hair loss. It’s important to note that iron absorption can be influenced by various factors, including the presence of certain medications, dietary components, and underlying health conditions. Therefore, individuals experiencing hair loss should undergo thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause, including the possibility of iron deficiency anemia. Managing iron deficiency anemia usually entails administering iron supplementation, which can be in the form of oral supplements or, in severe instances, intravenous iron therapy.

In addition, you can tell about hair loss through the following signs. A diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia may signal an underlying GI problem such as celiac disease or ulcerative colitis. Untreated iron-deficiency anemia can cause health problems such as fatigue, headache, dizziness, developmental delays, and even heart complications.

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Continue reading to learn more about which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss, hair loss causes, and how to stop hair loss. In 2017, Thompson et al. reviewed five other studies investigating the relationship between AA and iron [55]. None of these studies supported an association between AA and iron deficiency [27, 44, 111–113].

So it’s believed that drop in iron levels may impair the growth of hair follicles, thus affecting the hair growth cycle (2). If you are eating a well-balanced diet, your body should be getting all the nutrients it needs, so you probably don’t need to take additional vitamins. However, if you have a shortage of certain vitamins and minerals, like iron, then supplements can be a good way to keep your vitamin levels high. Some people find that certain vitamins help with hair loss, however there’s limited scientific evidence to support this.

Many things can cause anemia, but an iron deficiency is one of the most common. "One of the first steps in diagnosing any hair loss or thinning in my practice involves checking ferritin or iron levels in the blood," Doktor tells us. "Iron deficiency that causes anemia can directly affect hair growth and thinning."

You may experience a change in bowel movements as a side effect of the extra iron, so tell your doctor if you’re prone to upset stomach. Similarly, inadequate zinc intake affects protein synthesis and cell division, leading to hair thinning and stunted growth. Niacin deficiency, often linked to alcoholism, malabsorption, or certain medications, can also contribute to hair loss. Research states that there is not enough evidence available to suggest that taking iron supplements will help a person with hair loss grow new hair if they have iron-deficiency anemia. Doctors are continually researching new techniques to restore hair growth.

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