Most women are self conscious about their hair and even more so with hair loss. It may come on gradually or suddenly, be temporary or permanent. There are ways to help prevent hair loss and treatments to reverse it, depending on the cause. Nutritional supplements such as biotin and lysine have been used to help prevent hair loss.
Hair
Hair goes through a three-phase growing cycle and hair loss is a disruption in this natural cycle. Anagen is the first phase. It is the lengthy active, growing phase that lasts from two to six years. Catagen, the second part of the cycle, is when hair becomes the protein keratin. The last phase of the cycle, telogen, is when your hair falls out so the hair follicle can re-enter the first phase of anagen, to begin the cycle over. Hair loss occurs when your hair fails to return to the anagen phase.
Biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin essential for hair, skin and nails. It plays a large role helping enzymes in the body break down fats and carbohydrates. Biotin also aids in synthesizing fatty acids, amino acids and glucose, according to the Vitamins and Health Supplements Guide. It enables the body to effectively use blood sugar and contributes to energy metabolism. The primary symptom of a biotin deficiency is hair loss.
Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid necessary for building protein. It contributes to the growth and production of carnitine which helps to convert fatty acids into energy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website. Lysine may also aid the body in absorbing calcium and is needed for the formation of collagen. Collagen is vital for bones and connective tissue such as skin, tendons and cartilage.
Significance
Biotin and lysine are both important for healthy hair. Biotin is a common treatment for hair loss and lysine is part of a patent to make it a treatment for hair loss. There is another patent for a supplement that includes biotin and lysine, among other nutrients, for preventing hair loss. Lysine works by increasing the proportion of growing hair in the anagen phase and decreasing the amount of hair in the telogen phase, according to Patent Storm website.
Considerations
Both biotin and lysine is available in food and most people obtain enough through diet. Lysine from food is considered to be safe but high dose supplements may cause gallstones. Biotin is also safe from food but consuming raw egg whites will bind biotin inhibiting it from being absorbed by the body.
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