What is lacking in the body when hair falls out?

Healthy and strong hair not only affects a person's appearance, but also serves as a kind of indicator of the overall condition of the body. Hair loss is primarily associated with ageing, but there are various other cases in which the density of hair on the head may decrease.

Density in terms of both the number of hairs per surface area and the concentration of building substances in each hair. Although there are many causes of hair loss, some cases may be related to nutritional deficiencies.

1. Alopecia areata and vitamin D
2. Hypothyroidism and iodine
3. Systemic malnutrition

Alopecia areata and vitamin D

One of the diseases leading to hair loss is the autoimmune disease alopecia areata. It involves a disruption in the functioning of the hair follicles, caused by the abnormal activation of immune cells. It affects 0.1-0.2% of people and may co-occur with other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or type I diabetes.

One review of scientific studies showed that patients with alopecia areata are more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency than healthy individuals. What is more, both deficiencies of this compound and genetic problems with the functioning of the receptors to which vitamin D binds can lead not only to alopecia areata, but also to other autoimmune disorders. Vitamin D deficiencies are observed in people with low fish consumption and low skin exposure to sunlight during the summer months.

Hypothyroidism and iodine

Another well-known cause of hair loss is hypothyroidism, i.e. reduced secretory activity of the thyroid gland. The hormones produced in the thyroid gland affect the biochemical signals in the hair follicles, which maintain the cycle of hair growth and loss and enable the regeneration of the epidermis.

One of the nutrients that is crucial for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland is iodine. Iodine deficiency over time leads to inflammation of the thyroid gland and decreased secretory activity, which manifests itself in chronic fatigue, coldness and lack of motivation. Low iodine intake is particularly common among people on vegan diets and those who avoid salt in their diet.

Systemic malnutrition

Apart from specific cases where deficiencies of certain nutrients affect specific immune cells or hormones, it is also worth noting that hair loss can accompany general malnutrition. Proteins, peptides, amino acids and amino acid compounds form the basis for the creation of new hair and the development, protection and regeneration of other tissues.

A diet rich in easily digestible protein-rich products, i.e. including eggs, meat, offal, fish, dairy products and legumes, is essential for the production of, among other things, keratin (a component of hair) and collagen (which builds all tissues). Furthermore, constant attention should be paid to zinc and biotin, which modulate the biochemical processes involved in hair production.

Sources:

• Lee S, Kim BJ, Lee CH, Lee WS. Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Jul;32(7):1214-1221. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14987. Epub 2018 May 18. PMID: 29633370.
• Contreras-Jurado C, Lorz C, García-Serrano L, Paramio JM, Aranda A. Thyroid hormone signaling controls hair follicle stem cell function. Mol Biol Cell. 2015 Apr 1;26(7):1263-72. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E14-07-1251. Epub 2015 Feb 5. PMID: 25657324; PMCID: PMC4454174.
• Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019 Mar;9(1):51-70. doi: 10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6. Epub 2018 Dec 13. PMID: 30547302; PMCID: PMC6380979.
• Guo EL, Katta R. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017 Jan 31;7(1):1-10. doi: 10.5826/dpc.0701a01. PMID: 28243487; PMCID: PMC5315033.