Vitamin D is a crucial mineral for our overall health. It improves immunity, keeps bones and skin healthy, promotes cell growth, and aids in the formation of new hair follicles. Vitamin D is generally absorbed by sun exposure, although it can also be obtained through dietary supplements and certain foods.
When your body doesn’t get enough vitamin D, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including hair loss. Alopecia, often known as spot baldness, and a variety of other health issues have been related to vitamin D deficiency Trusted Source. Bone weakening, low bone density, osteoarthritis, heart disease, and cancer are among them.
Other vitamin deficits that might result in hair loss are:
- Vitamin D deficiency can cause hair to thin or stop growing.
- Zinc insufficiency can induce hair loss comparable to iron deficiency, as well as damage and break any remaining hair.
- Selenium insufficiency is uncommon, according to Armani. When this happens, it can cause hypothyroidism and hair loss by disrupting thyroid function.
Vitamin-related hair loss can cause people to lose more than just their hair on their heads. The shedding of eyebrows and lashes can also be caused by damage to hair follicles.
Hair Loss and Vitamin Deficiency Treatment
Self-diagnosis is not recommended for people who believe their hair loss is caused by a vitamin deficit. A doctor can check for vitamin deficiencies, propose diet and supplementation, and maybe prescribe other treatments. It’s also possible to have many types of hair loss at the same time, so getting an appropriate diagnosis is crucial.
Is hair loss caused by a vitamin D deficiency?
According to research, a deficiency of vitamin D in the body might cause hair loss. Vitamin D helps to stimulate both new and old hair follicles. New hair development can be inhibited if you don’t have enough vitamin D in your system.
Alopecia, an autoimmune disease that creates bald patches on the scalp and other parts of the body, has been linked to vitamin D deficiency. Alopecia can affect both males and women. Another study by Trusted Source discovered that women aged 18 to 45 who had alopecia or other types of hair loss had low vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by spending too much time inside, using too much sunscreen, and not eating enough vitamin D-rich foods.
Supplements containing vitamin D
Vitamin D is often just 400 IU in multivitamins, which is less than the required daily amount. Vitamin D should also be included in your diet. Vitamin D levels in the blood can be checked by your doctor, and the appropriate supplementation amount can be determined. If your levels are extremely low, your doctor may prescribe hefty prescription dosage.
Take the supplement with a meal to ensure that the fat-soluble vitamin is well absorbed. Breastfed infants get essential nourishment from their mother’s milk. If a breast-feeding mother’s diet is deficient in vitamin D, her baby will most likely require a vitamin D supplement.
exposure to the sun
The majority of people receive their vitamin D from sun exposure. When you don’t spend enough time in the sun or use too much sunscreen, your exposure is limited, which can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. Take a 15-minute tour of your neighborhood on a sunny day if you can. The balance between shielding our skin from the sun and getting vitamin D is delicate. If you can’t stay in the sun for long periods of time, attempt to spend some extra time near a window that lets light in.
Vitamin D-rich foods
Vitamin D levels can be improved by eating a nutritious diet rich in naturally occurring or fortified vitamin D. Some foods contain the vitamin in its natural state. Salmon, mackerel, and other fatty fish, as well as fish liver oils and animal fats, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. One tablespoon of cod liver oil, in fact, delivers 340 percent of your daily vitamin D requirementTrusted Source. Vitamin D-fortified foods, such as specific cereals, milk, and orange juice, are also available. Vegan and vegetarian diets, on the other hand, are known to be deficient in vitamin D, therefore supplements may be required if you follow this way of life.
