If you already eat well-balanced meals and get the recommended daily amount of vitamins, taking more vitamins won't supercharge the growth of your hair. However, taking too many of some vitamins and not enough of others can slow hair growth or even lead to a loss of hair. If you take good care of yourself, expect your hair to grow about 1/2-inch each month. Before taking any vitamins, always consult your physician first.
Vitamin A
Too much of a good thing can sometimes turn out to be bad. That's the case with vitamin A. This is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is stored in the body until needed. The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign says one of the functions of vitamin A is to keep hair, skin and nails healthy, but if too much builds up in your body, your skin may undergo changes and you may experience some hair loss. You can find vitamin A in vegetables such as sweet potatoes and those that are green, orange or yellow. Cantaloupe and apricots are good fruit sources of vitamin A.
B Vitamins
The B vitamins help your body get or make energy from the foods you eat and help form red blood cells. Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, lists eight vitamins in this group: B6, B12, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7) and folic acid. B vitamins can be found in protein-rich foods such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products. Vegetables such as leafy greens, beans and peas also are a good source. In addition, some breads and cereals have added B vitamins. Holistic Online says hair loss can occur when you don't get enough B6, biotin and folic acid. It says pantothenic acid and niacin are especially important for hair growth.
Vitamin C
If you don't get enough vitamin C, Medline Plus says you may find your hair getting dry and split and your skin turning rough, dry and scaly. You need vitamin C for the growth and repair of tissues throughout your body. Vitamin C is not stored in the body, so you need to make sure you're getting this vitamin every day. Medline Plus says the best sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes and cantaloupe, and vegetables such as broccoli, green peppers, sweet and white potatoes, turnip greens and other leafy greens.
Member Comments