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Does Lack of Vitamin B Cause Baldness?

Jul 11, 2011 | By Kathryn Gilhuly
Does Lack of Vitamin B Cause Baldness?
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The cause of male pattern baldness remains unknown, although genetics and hormones likely play roles. The B vitamins aid digestion and promote the health of your skin, eyes and hair. If you obtain enough vitamin B from your diet, you do not need to take B vitamins, either alone or in a complex formula. Some people take vitamin B to treat hair loss, but science does not yet support or refute such use.

Vitamin B Deficiency

Since vitamin B helps you grow and maintain healthy hair, it makes sense that a lack of B vitamins could contribute to hair loss and baldness. But logic and evidence are not the same. If you're worried about becoming bald and suspect you don't get enough vitamin B from your diet, your doctor can order blood tests to determine whether your body lacks vitamin B. When you're not deficient in vitamin B, taking large doses will not improve the health of your hair but may cause serious side effects.

Baldness vs. Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness and hair loss are two separate issues. Medications -- chemotherapy drugs, for instance -- can cause hair loss. Physical stress, including illness and rapid weight changes, can contribute to hair loss. Emotional stress, including grief and anxiety, may cause you to lose abnormal amounts of hair. Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy and menopause, also affect hair loss. But male pattern baldness occurs because of a lack of hair growth not an increase in hair loss. In male pattern baldness, your hair follicle shrinks. New hair comes in shorter and finer and may eventually stop growing altogether.

Side Effects

Use caution if you decide to take vitamin B supplements. You can overdose on vitamin B. Serious side effects include high elevations in blood sugar levels for persons with type 2 diabetes, vision loss, stomach ulcers, gout and damage to your central nervous system, liver and brain. If you have kidney disease, taking vitamin B complex could make it worse. Taking high doses of vitamin B-3, also known as niacin, could increase your risk for heart disease and strokes. Less serious side effects include nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, skin rashes and changes in urine color and output.

Considerations

You can safely add vitamin B-rich foods to your diet. This may resolve minor deficiencies and improve your hair health. The B vitamins also help you convert carbohydrates to sugar and metabolize fats and proteins as well as improve the function of your liver and nervous system. Good food sources of vitamin B include yeast, cereals, green vegetables, milk, chicken, eggs, beans and nuts. If you don't include any animal products in your diet, you may not get enough vitamin B-12. Other persons at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency include adults older than 50, stomach surgery patients and persons with Crohn's disease. Persons who drink excessive amounts of alcohol may suffer from a lack of several B vitamins.

References

Article reviewed by Sue Last updated on: Jul 11, 2011

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