According to the American Academy of Dermatology, an iron deficiency can cause hair loss. However, if you increase your iron intake to recommended levels to correct iron-deficiency anemia, your hair loss should eventually return to normal growth rates.
Background
To correct an iron deficiency, typically you’ll require more iron on a daily basis than someone who is not iron deficient. You may require a prescription from your doctor. Iron therapy to correct a deficiency should help increase your iron stores and blood iron levels to normal values. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, most nonpregnant adults who are iron deficient require 50 to 60 milligrams of elemental iron per day to rebuild iron stores. Pregnant iron-deficient women will likely require more iron on a daily basis than this. You should start to see your hair growth and shedding rates return to normal after your iron levels are back to normal.
Prevention
To help prevent hair loss related to iron deficiency, consume the Institute of Medicine’s recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, for iron on a daily basis. Iron RDAs are 8 milligrams per day for adult men and women over 50, 18 milligrams for adult women under 50, 27 milligrams per day for pregnant women and 9 milligrams per day for nursing women. Consume your daily iron requirements by eating iron-rich foods, taking iron supplements or both. Pregnant women should take an iron-containing prenatal multivitamin supplement.
Iron-Rich Foods
Consuming iron-rich foods daily can help prevent hair loss related to iron deficiency. Foods high in heme iron, the form of iron best absorbed by the human body, include red meat, oysters, clams, chicken liver, chicken and fish. Source of nonheme iron include fortified breakfast cereals and oatmeal, spinach, legumes such as kidney beans, soybeans and raisins.
Concerns
Since iron is not easily excreted from the body, consuming too much iron over time can cause iron toxicity, which is also harmful or even fatal. Unless you’re currently iron deficient, avoid consuming more iron than the Institute of Medicine’s tolerable upper intake levels, which are 45 milligrams per day for all adults. Consult your doctor before taking iron supplements.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology; Who Gets and Causes; 2011
- National Office of Dietary Supplement; Iron; August 2007
- Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes for Vitamins and Elements
- Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board; Dietary Reference Intakes: UL for Vitamins and Elements May 2011
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