Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? A Complete Guide

Do you often worry about your hair, and its quality, and wish you could grow them thicker? If so, you're not alone in this journey. 

And I know out of all, hair loss, or alopecia, can be very distressing, while some have this hair problem genetically it's not always purely genetic. In fact, in most people, hair loss is due to vitamin deficiency. 

Yes, vitamin deficiencies like vitamin D deficiency play a significant role in hair thinning. In this guide, we'll explore the key vitamins for hair growth and thickness and also discuss the best supplements for hair growth and thickness.

Understanding about Vitamin Deficiency and Its Causes

There are 6 primary and vital nutrients that our body requires to function properly named as: 

proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, water, vitamins and minerals. 

Where, vitamin facilitates many body functions such as red blood cell production, hair growth, and many more. Hence, if there is a long-term deficit of any vitamin it is known as vitamin deficiency, resulting in various diseases & weakness. 

Now, the cause of vitamin deficiencies could result from:

Inadequate Diet: Not including a variety of healthy foods from each food group often leads to vitamin deficiencies.

Blood Loss: Severe conditions of menstruation, illness, or injury can also cause vitamin deficiency such as iron which is a vitamin for hair growth and thickness.

Absorption Issues: Many times due to certain diseases or conditions our body does not allow or limit proper nutrient absorption, resulting in vitamin deficiency.

Medications: Medications also interfere with the body's ability to absorb vitamins.

Alcohol: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can impact vitamin levels.

Now that we know about vitamin deficiency and what causes vitamin deficiency, let’s discuss vitamin deficiencies responsible for hair loss.

Vitamin B Complex, especially Vitamin B12

Vitamin B Complex is a huge family of eight water-soluble vitamins and each of them is uniquely important for cell metabolism. Amongst all of them, Vitamin B12 is critical for hair health and its absence can cause severe hair loss. The work of vitamin B12 is to increase the oxygen supply to hair follicles and help in the replacement of lost hair strands. 

Treatment

You can include this vitamin for hair growth and thickness through a balanced diet or include vitamin B12 supplementation which is more easily available. Have a look at the below supplement, it is one of the most preferred supplements to complete vitamin B levels in your body and reduces hair loss problems with its continuous usage. 

Biotin or Vitamin B7

Biotin, or vitamin B7, is responsible for promoting hair strength and making it thicker by reducing hair loss. Our body requires biotin to produce energy from the food we eat, which means if there is not enough biotin in our body, it will be difficult to get the nutrients required for hair growth. Moreover, Keratin (present in our hair strands) also requires biotin for its production. 

Treatment

Our body already produces adequate biotin, its deficiencies can occur due to genetic factors or lifestyle choices such as smoking or the use of certain medications. You can take a vitamin B-rich food to prevent hair loss. And you can also include SwissMe Biotin Gummies which will provide you with biotin, folic acid, and essential B vitamins required for building blocks of hair. 

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency and hair loss share a deep connection. Vitamin D receptors are found in keratinocytes, the skin cells responsible for processing the hair protein keratin. The most common effect of vitamin D deficiency is seen in people having alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition where our immune cell starts attacking hair follicles.

Treatment:

Sunlight is the major source of vitamin D, however, our busy lifestyle often limits proper sunlight exposure, and therefore vitamin D deficiency continues. You can start a vitamin D supplement, the one from the Purayati brand is made up of natural herbs and provides enough vitamin D dose through every consumption, it is specially made for conditions like alopecia areata. 

Vitamin E deficiency

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant known for protecting cells from damage. When enough vitamin E is present in our body it helps to create a protective barrier on our scalp that keeps hair hydrated and healthy. Additionally, vitamin E also reduces oxidative stress in the scalp, a factor often linked to hair loss.

Treatment:

To avoid vitamin E deficiency, fuel your diet with leafy green vegetables, sunflower seeds, almonds, and nuts. You can also include hair fall supplements for vitamin E and prevent hair loss due to vitamin deficiency. Try out Health Veda Organic’s Vitamin E capsules which are simply the best supplements for hair growth and thickness.

Iron deficiency and hair loss

Iron as we all know is an essential nutrient for healthy hemoglobin levels, a molecule that transports oxygen and nutrients to cells, including hair follicles. If a person is iron deficient, the most common symptom you will notice is hair loss because hair follicles don’t get enough oxygen to facilitate hair follicle growth. 

Treatment:

Including various iron-rich foods is mandatory to increase the hemoglobin level in your blood. The sources can be food and iron supplements. In the case of food, you can include nuts & seeds, whole grain foods, and green leafy vegetables. Also, try this awesome supplement which can increase the hemoglobin level in a few days and is enriched with other important nutrients as well. 

Zinc deficiency and hair loss

Zinc is one of the important elements that helps to maintain the structural integrity of hair follicles. In fact, zinc not only helps in the maintenance of hair follicles but its deficiency can cause premature shedding of hair and weaken the oil glands in the scalp.  One more important thing to note is if you're vitamin A or D vitamin deficient, you're likely also to suffer a zinc deficiency. 

Treatment:

Start including dairy products, nuts, and whole grain food to enrich your diet with zinc, otherwise, you might suffer from baldness, hair fall, and other hair-related issues. And if you can’t meet adequate zinc levels through food alone, don’t worry because Hair Fall Control melts by Wellbeing Nutrition reduces every chance of hair thinning & improves hair volume. 

Other Important vitamins and minerals to reduce hair loss

Other than the above-mentioned vitamins for hair growth and thickness, there are a few other supplements you can try for healthy hair growth, such as:

Omega-3 : 

Including Omega-3 for your hair health can help you with fatty acid deficiency which is often the cause of hair loss from the scalp, eyelids, and eyebrows. Omega-3 and omega-6 both the forms can help with removing inflammation in the follicles and stimulate hair growth. 

Incorporate omega-3 sources like flaxseeds, walnuts, and dedicated omega-3 supplements like GNC - Triple Strength Fish Oil into your diet.

Vitamin C:

We all have heard about vitamin C and it’s important in our daily life. It is one of the most supporting vitamins for collagen production, and zinc & iron absorption, which has a direct impact on promoting hair growth. 

Include vitamin C foods such as kiwi fruit, kale, oranges, and guava, and incorporate vitamin C tablets into your diet to improve your vitamin C levels. 

Conclusion

Nobody wants to go through the hair loss phase, and this is why it is important to understand the reason behind the hair loss to solve it quickly. While genetics may influence your hair's destiny, addressing vitamin deficiencies can significantly impact its overall health. 

We at GetSupp have the best supplements for hair growth and thickness including hair growth supplements for women as well as ayurvedic medicine for hair loss. If you have any confusion and wondering which hair fall supplement is best for you, don’t worry you can connect with our GetSupp dietitians and get an expert consultation for the right supplement.