A normal head of hair contains about 300,000 hairs, of which 10 percent may be in a resting phase, after which they fall out. The hair shaft grows from the follicle, or root, which is embedded in the second layer of your skin called the dermal layer. It is not unusual for you to lose an average of 150 hairs per day. Taking natural vitamins may encourage hair growth, but consult your doctor first.
Biotin
Biotin, also known as vitamin H or B-7, is part of the B-complex group, which plays an important role in metabolizing fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Biotin also helps synthesize amino acids that are necessary for protein formation, such as with your hair shaft which is surrounded by a protein substance called keratin. A deficiency in biotin may cause hair loss. A 1981 article in "Pediatrics" documents a young boy with complete hair loss due to a diet of raw eggs. It was found that a compound in the egg whites bonded with biotin and removed it from the system. Once the eggs were taken out of the diet and biotin supplements were given, the boy's hair grew back.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a natural vitamin important for its antioxidant properties. Time spent in the sun, or exposure to harmful chemicals in the air, may make your hair dry and brittle and prone to breaking. Vitamin C neutralizes these free radicals preventing further damage. Vitamin C also plays a key role in collagen production, the substance that makes connective tissue that forms blood vessels. Your hair follicles require a good supply of blood to ensure healthy hair and promote growth.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, or B-2, is important in maintaining healthy, strong hair. A 2002 article in the journal "Clinical and Experimental Dermatology" notes that hair loss is often associated with low levels of iron in the blood. A riboflavin deficiency changes iron metabolism, impairing its absorption and promoting its loss through the intestines. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, increasing riboflavin in the diet improves serum levels of iron and the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. This, in turn, ensures a rich supply of blood to the hair follicles.
Vitamin D
A hair follicle naturally goes through a resting stage followed by a loss of its hair shaft, then a regrowth period. For the hair to restart its growth cycle, vitamin D must be present. A 2003 article in "The Journal of Biological chemistry" demonstrated this process by using rats and following the hairs cycle. Through a complex chemical process involving vitamin D and other chemical receptors and genes, it showed that without vitamin D, hair did not regrow.
References
- Rush University Medical Center: Hair Problems
- "Pediatrics"; Clinical and Metabolic Abnormalities in a Boy With Dietary Deficiency of Biotin; Lawrence Sweetman, et al.; October 1981
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamins
- "Clinical and Experimental Dermatology"; Nutritional factors and hair loss; D. H. Rushton; August 2002
- "The Journal of Biological Chemistry"; Physical and Functional Interaction between the Vitamin D Receptor and Hairless Corepressor, Two Proteins Required for Hair Cycling; Jui-Cheng Hsieh, et al.; July 2003
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