Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?
This question, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey:
I recently got my Vitamin D level checked and I am deficient even though I take the recommended daily allowance in supplements. This is a growing problem; especially for people who don’t get much sun, the best source of vitamin D. Apparently, one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is thinning hair. It alters growing phases. Hoping mine improves now I am increasing the supplements.
I asked my GP to test it but he declined, saying it wasn’t necessary. Some GPs will test Vitamin D, but many will not. I found a service on the net which is a Birmingham, UK NHS hospital that offers a service for 25 pounds ($40 US). They send a kit which includes a skin pricker and I had to place four drops of blood on the collection paper and then post it back to them. Very good service. The result is back within 5 days and easy to read result.
Opinions differ on how much vitamin D is needed to correct a deficiency. I have read that 1000IU is needed per 25lbs of body weight daily and should be taken with some dietary fat as it is fat soluble. This high dose should only be taken until the correct level is achieved. Then it should be reduced to 2000IU daily.
I strongly doubt Vitamin D is a problem for you and I’m not a huge fan of the vitamin scam. But, it won’t hurt to take an inexpensive daily vitamin containing vitamin D. Make sure you drink some milk or get calcium too. Not only for hair growth but for your bones.
Dr. William Lindsey – McLean, VA
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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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