While some thinning and graying of hair is a matter of genetics, not all cases are due to heredity. Hair health and appearance rely greatly on the quality of the daily intake of nutrients. Deficiencies can directly cause thinning and graying, as well as interfere with the operation of the bodily systems that support hair growth and health, such as the hormonal system. Taking supplements for thinning and graying hair can help to reduce hair fall, increase hair growth, and decrease gray in cases that are not strictly a matter of genes.
Vitamin B Complex
The vitamin B complex has a vital role in hair health and appearance, as explained by Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute. Deficiencies in certain B vitamins, such as folic acid, can be a direct cause of gray hair. Deficiencies in other B Vitamins can contribute to hair loss. The B vitamin complex has a direct role in promoting the health of the scalp and hair growth, supporting multiple essential processes within the body. Among these are the production of red blood cells, which carry the nutrients and oxygen required by the scalp to support hair growth, and partnership in the processes involved in hemoglobin collecting and releasing oxygen. The B vitamins also have a role in converting nutrients to energy and the metabolism of proteins, both important processes for healthy hair growth.
Copper
As the Linus Pauling Institute notes, gray hair can be a result of a deficiency in copper because of it is a necessary part of the production of melanin, which is the source of hair's color. This trace mineral also works as an antioxidant, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, helping to slow the effects of aging, which can contribute to hair thinning, by fighting the free radicals that inflict damage to cells. Copper works to support healthy hair growth by its contribution to the manufacture of hemoglobin and red blood cells, essential to the delivery of oxygen and nutrients necessary for hair growth to the scalp. Copper also has a role in thyroid health, and thus a role in the production and regulation of hormones. Hormonal imbalance can contribute to hair loss, making this nutrient important to hair color and health on a variety of levels.
Antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E
These vitamins are well known for their strong antioxidant action against free radicals and the destruction those free radicals inflict on cells throughout the body. According to the National Pregnancy Association, "antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth," making these vitamins a great choice for those experiencing hair thinning related to hormonal fluctuations. For those enduring hair thinning that is primarily related to aging, these antioxidant vitamins can also be of help, as clinical testing has demonstrated that antioxidants can slow the physical signs of aging. Supporting the body nutritionally can contribute to new and healthy hair growth.
References
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Copper
- University of Maryland Medical Center, Complementary Medicine: Copper
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamins
- American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy and Hair Loss
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