Vitamins, Minerals and Other Compounds that Help With Hair Growth

Vitamin B6 is one of the B-complex, water-soluble vitamins. Vitamin B6 was discovered in the 1930s during nutrition studies on rats. The vitamin was named pyridoxine to indicate its structural homology to pyridine. Later it was shown that vitamin B6 could exist in two other, slightly different, chemical forms, termed pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. Vitamin B6 is very essential for body functions and its deficiency can lead to many disorders including hair loss. [1] It is essential for nerve function, immune function, protein digestion and is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism. It is also essential for red blood cell metabolism. The nervous and immune systems need vitamin B₆ to function efficiently. Vitamin B6 promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. [2] Grumpiness and irritability are sometimes symptomatic of a deficiency according to "Body, Mind, and the B Vitamins" by Ruth Adams and Frank Murray.

Vitamin B₆ also helps maintain your blood glucose (sugar) within a normal range. When caloric intake is low your body needs vitamin B₆ to help convert stored carbohydrate or other nutrients to glucose to maintain normal blood sugar levels. While a shortage of vitamin B₆ will limit these functions, supplements of this vitamin do not enhance them in well-nourished individuals

Vitamin B6 is prevalent in both animal and vegetable food sources. Vitamin B₆ is found in a wide variety of foods including fortified cereals, beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits and vegetables [1,11]. The table of selected food sources of vitamin B₆ suggests many dietary sources of B₆.

Biotin is also one of the Vitamin B complex necessary for fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Biotin is also known as Vitamin B_7. It is essential for healthy skin, hair and nails and deficiency state has been shown to cause hair loss. [3] Biotin is used in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, metabolism of fats, and amino acids. It plays a role in the Citric acid cycle, which is the process in which biochemical energy is generated during aerobic respiration. Biotin not only assists in various metabolic chemical conversions, but also helps to transfer carbon dioxide. Biotin is also helpful in maintaining a steady blood sugar level. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails.

Biotin supplements are often recommended as a natural product to counteract the problem of hair loss. The signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss which progresses in severity to include loss of eye lashes and eye brows in severely deficient subjects. Some shampoos are available that contain biotin, but it is doubtful whether they would have any useful effect, as biotin is not absorbed well through the skin. Oral consumption I the recommended method.

Magnesium, an important mineral is essential for chemical reactions in the body including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission, bone structure and hair growth. [4] Deficiency symptoms have three categories:

Early symptoms include irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and muscle twitching. Other symptoms may include poor memory, apathy, confusion, and reduced ability to learn.
Moderate deficiency symptoms consist of rapid heartbeat and other cardiovascular changes.
Severe deficiency of magnesium could lead to tingling, numbness, sustained contraction of the muscles, and hallucinations and delirium.

Zinc is an essential mineral necessary for a healthy immune system and proper functioning of enzymes. It is needed for cell division where it is required for protein and DNA synthesis, in insulin activity, in the metabolism of the ovaries and testes, and in liver function, and hence important for skin, nails and hair. Studies report that zinc causes increase on hair density and reverses hair loss. [5] [6] [7] As a component of many enzymes, zinc is involved in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and energy.

The first signs of zinc deficiency are impairment of taste, a poor immune response and skin problems. Other symptoms of zinc deficiency can include hair loss, diarrhea, fatigue, and delayed wound healing. It is thought that zinc supplementation can help skin conditions such as acne and eczema, prostate problems, anorexia nervosa, alcoholics and those suffering from trauma or post-surgery.

Saw Palmetto also known as Serenoa repens, is the sole species currently classified in the genus Serenoa and has been shown to reduce DHT and 5 alpha-reductase. It actually blocks the receptor sites that are required for the absorption of DHT. It promotes hair growth by blocking the culprit DHT. [8] [9]. Saw Palmetto extract is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols. There are also positive clinical trials published on the use of saw palmetto extracts for treating male-pattern baldness.

Nettle root is an interesting compound that blocks 2 enzymes, 5a-reductase, which makes the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and aromatase enzyme, which makes estrogens. It also possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic and antiulcer activity. [10] [11] [12]

Pumpkin (Cucurbita Maxima): The oil extract from pumpkin seeds has long been used as hair supplement. The extract has shown activity against testosterone, therefore has potential in preventing hair loss. [13]

Eleuthero is a member of the ginseng family, though it is of a different genus than other popular ginsengs such as the Panax variety. Like other ginseng, it had been traditionally used for healthy hair, for increasing endurance and helps restore concentration. [14]

Uva-Ursi extract has antimicrobial activity. [15] The herb neutralizes acidity in the urine, increasing urine flow, therefore reducing bloating & water retention, making it beneficial for hair growth.[16] [17]

Muria Puama plays an important role in energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission bone structure and hair growth for both men and women. Also help with stress management, nervous system stimulation, virility, and overall health. [18] [19] [20] [21]

Azelaic Acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid found naturally in rye, barley and wheat. Azelaic acid is a natural substance that is produced by Malassezia furfur, also known as Pityrosporum ovale, a yeast that lives on normal skin. It is effective against a number of skin conditions such as mild to moderate acne. Azelaic acid may be useful as a hair growth stimulant.

References

1. Prendiville, Manfredi. Skin signs of nutritional disorders. Semin Dermatol. 1992 Mar; 11(1):88-97.

2. Brzezinska-Wcislo L. Evaluation of vitamin B6 and calcium pantothenate effectiveness on hair growth from clinical and trichographic aspects for treatment of diffuse alopecia in women. Wiad Lek. 2001; 54(1-2):11-8.

3. Charles et al. Biotin-responsive alopecia and developmental regression. Lancet. 1979 Jul 21; 2(8134):118-20.

4. Cotton, Porters, Spruit. Magnesium content of the hair in alopecia areata atopica. Dermatologica. 1976; 152(1):60-2.

5. Plonka, Handjiski, Popik, Michalczyk, Paus. Zinc as an ambivalent but potent modulator of murine hair growth in vivo- preliminary observations. Exp Dermatol. 2005 Nov; 14(11):844-53.

6. Berger et al. The effects of minoxidil, 1% pyrithione zinc and a combination of both on hair density: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2003 Aug;149(2):354-62.

7. Neve, Bhatti, Soulsby, Kincey, Taylor. Reversal of Hair Loss following Vertical Gastroplasty when Treated with Zinc Sulphate. Obes Surg. 1996 Feb;6(1):63-65.

8. Sinclair, Mallari, Tate. Sensitization to saw palmetto and minoxidil in separate topical extemporaneous treatments for androgenetic alopecia. Australas J Dermatol. 2002 Nov;43(4):311-2.

9. Prager, Bickett, French, Marcovici. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52.

10. Safarinejad MR. Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005;5(4):1-11.

11. Daher, Baroody, Baroody.Effect of Urtica dioica extract intake upon blood lipid profile in the rats. Fitoterapia. 2006 Apr;77(3):183-8.

12. Gulcin et al. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):205-15.

13. Tsai et al. Pumpkin seed oil and phytosterol-F can block testosterone/prazosin-induced prostate growth in rats. Urol Int. 2006;77(3):269-74.

14. Gaffney, Hugel, Rich. The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes. Life Sci. 2001 Dec 14;70(4):431-42.

15. Kruszewska, Zareba, Tyski. Examination of antimicrobial activity of selected non-antibiotic drugs. Acta Pol Pharm. 2004 Dec;61 Suppl:18-21.

16. Yarnell E. Botanical medicines for the urinary tract. World J Urol. 2002 Nov;20(5):285-93.

17. Schindler et al. Urinary excretion and metabolism of arbutin after oral administration of Arctostaphylos uvae ursi extract as film-coated tablets and aqueous solution in healthy humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Aug;42(8):920-7.

18. Mendes, Carlini. Brazilian plants as possible adaptogens: An ethnopharmacological survey of books edited in Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print]

19. Siqueira et al. Neuroprotective effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) on oxygen and glucose deprivation induced damage in rat hippocampal slices. Life Sci. 2004 Aug 27;75(15):1897-906.

20. Siqueira et al. Ptychopetalum olacoides, a traditional Amazonian "nerve tonic", possesses anticholinesterase activity. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):645-50.

Home - Privacy Policy - Terms Of Use