A healthy diet supplies the nutrients necessary for cell growth and regeneration. Nowhere is this more readily apparent than in your hair. According to "Vitamins to Health," a diet rich in B vitamins such as biotin, pantothenic acid, and niacin are critical to hair health. Silica and zinc also contribute to hair growth. Hereditary factors, medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and immune diseases, the post-partum state (after childbirth), and heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead are known causes of hair loss.
General Heath
If you are losing hair, it is helpful to start assessing your situation by taking a look at what is happening to you right now. Did you just have a baby? Are you under stress or have you recently lost weight? Is there a family history of male or female hair thinning or baldness? Do you drink alcohol? Are you taking antibiotics or other medications that could interfere with vitamin absorption? Suspect you may be hypothyroid? If so, you should discuss with your doctor whether or not these factors are contributing to your hair loss. These are conditions of hair loss that can spontaneously improve or be easily ameliorated by eliminating the offending factor. Dietary review can help determine if you are at risk for heavy metal ingestion. Your doctor can review your dietary history and obtain blood tests to determine if your hair loss has a medical cause.
B Vitamins Help Hair Growth
Deficiency of biotin, pantothenic acid/ B5, niacin/ B3 and pyridoxine/ B6 causes hair loss. According to Holisticonline.com, a diet rich in foods that contain B vitamins, such as soy beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, bran, nuts, eggs, beans and nutritional yeast can be combined with the use of B complex vitamins to help combat hair loss caused by deficiency. Lentils, oats, soybeans, peas and walnuts are rich in biotin. The website also notes that doses of vitamin A greater than or equal to 100,000 IU can trigger hair loss.
Inositol
According to Princeton University, inositol is an “optically inactive alcohol that is a component of the vitamin B complex.” According to chemist Larry Newman and nutritionist Mika Bradford, CN, of Kirkman Labs, inositol is active in detoxification and may function as an intracellular messenger. Inositol is considered to be a useful supplement for hair growth.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants whose positive effects on hair growth is believed to be due to improvement of circulation and immune function. Zinc also has a positive effect on immune health, which benefits hair growth.
Other Nutrients
According to “Vitamins for Hair Loss,” iron and lysine help to prevent hair loss, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids improve hair quality and support overall hair health.
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