Sluggish hair growth and hair loss, or alopecia, can occur for a variety of reasons. Common causes include aging, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause, as well as acute stress and poor nutrition, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC. Starting around age 30 some women may experience a general thinning of the hair, while 25 percent of men are already showing signs of balding by that age, notes Medline Plus. Certain natural vitamins are suggested to help promote hair growth.
Biotin or Vitamin H
Healthy hair requires biotin, or vitamin H to stimulate growth, reports the UMMC. Biotin has been combined with zinc aspartate to treat a form of hair loss known as alopecia areata or AA. AA is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out in patches on the scalp and other areas of the body. AA can strike at any age. Biotin may also help condition the hair, according to the website Hair Loss Information.
Dietary sources of vitamin H include carrots, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes. Symptoms of biotin deficiency can include hair loss. The suggested biotin dosage in supplement form is 300 mcg per day.
L-Lysine
Hair loss may be improved with the essential amino acid L-lysine, according to the UMMC. The recommended daily dosage of L-lysine for alopecia is 500 to 100 mg. A 2002 report published in the "Journal of Clinical Dermatology," suggests that L-lysine plays an important role in hair loss prevention.
Vitamin C
Hair health may be preserved and enhanced from vitamin C or ascorbic acid, reports the website Hair Loss Information. The daily recommended dose is 60 mg. Good sources of vitamin C include grapefruit, oranges, tomatoes, spinach and broccoli.
Vitamin D
Hair growth may be stimulated by vitamin D. An analytical review of decades of articles on vitamin D and hair loss concluded that additional studies into vitamin D are warranted. The review was published in February 2010 in the journal Dermatology Online. Research was headed by T.K. Amor of the Department of Dermatology, University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. The suggested daily adult dosage of vitamin D ranges from 200 to 600 IU.
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