Women can experience hair loss for a broad range of reasons. In some cases, the loss can be directly related to a vitamin deficiency. In others, hair loss can be related to hormonal changes that take place during and after pregnancy, as well as those that occur during menopause. Vitamins can also have a role in this type of hair loss, as proper nutrition is important to maintaining a proper hormonal balance. Other types of hair loss are hereditary, which can be more challenging to deal with. If choosing to take supplementary vitamins for women's hair loss, do so with attention to standard guidelines, because too much of certain vitamins can be toxic.
Vitamin B Complex
The B vitamins are essential to healthy hair, and deficiencies in some of the B vitamins can cause hair thinning, according to the American Cancer Society. The B vitamins make numerous contributions to hair growth and health. Critical to hemoglobin's ability to collect and release oxygen, as well as to the process by which red blood cells are made, vitamins B12 and B6 help hair to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow. The B vitamins also have a role in hormone production, making these vitamins a good choice for women suffering hair loss stemming from changing hormone levels. They also aid in the conversion of nutrients into energy for the cells important for hair growth. Because these vitamins are so powerful, it is important to keep supplement levels within the range of standard dosages, unless specifically advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.
Vitamin C
Because of its role in the production of collagen, vitamin C is an important nutrient for women dealing with hair loss. The blood vessels, including the small capillaries by which the red blood cells deliver the nutrients and oxygen necessary for hair growth and health to the scalp, need collagen for their very structure, as explained by Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute. The antioxidant action of this vitamin helps to protect cells from free radical damage. Vitamin C also has a role in hormone production and regulation, and deficiencies can contribute to the sort of hormonal imbalance that can affect hair loss and growth. As noted by the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C "is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol." According to Michael W. King, Ph.D., of the Indiana University School of Medicine, "steroid hormones are all derived from cholesterol." Sufficient vitamin C is necessary for hair health.
Vitamin E
A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E acts to protect cells and their membranes from free radical damage. However, that is not the only way that vitamin E can help women suffering from hair loss. Vitamin E also, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, helps preserve the form and function of blood vessels, as well as the capillaries through which pass the nutrients and oxygen required by the scalp for hair growth. Supplement this vitamin with care because, although it is essential, too much can have a detrimental effect on health.
References
- American Cancer Society, Herbs, Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin B Complex
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin C
- The Medical Biochemistry Page: Steroid-Hormones
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin E
Member Comments