The link between vitamin D and hair loss in humans is uncertain, with animal studies showing mixed results. While some studies suggest that vitamin D may play a role in hair growth and protection against hair loss caused by chemotherapy, more research is needed to confirm this. Alopecia, the clinical term for hair loss, may be caused by a weakened immune system or genetic factors. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption and can be obtained through sunlight, certain foods, and supplements, but excessive amounts can be harmful.
The connection between vitamin D and hair loss in humans is tentative. Several animal studies have been unable to provide evidence to suggest a link in humans. Research with hairless mice shows that vitamin D protects against hair loss caused by chemotherapy given during cancer treatment, but the results have not been replicated in humans. Experiments in mice reveal that vitamin D also plays an important role in hair growth, but experts say more studies are needed to prove a link between vitamin D and hair loss in people.
A vitamin D deficiency cannot be ruled out as a cause of hair loss, but there are no definitive data showing that vitamin D and hair loss in humans are connected. Similarly, research does not prove that too much of the vitamin causes or prevents alopecia in people. Alopecia is the clinical term for hair loss in men and women.
Researchers looking for a connection between vitamin D and hair loss in one study found that hair loss was prevented in mice exposed to high levels of the vitamin after treatment with a cocktail of chemotherapy agents. The study concluded that vitamin D therapy may depend on the specific chemicals used in chemotherapy and the level of vitamin D administered. Similar chemical mixtures and potent levels of vitamin D used in animal experiments have not been tested in people.
Alopecia normally affects the hair on the head, but it can lead to hair loss all over the body. Some people who develop the condition notice that the hair loss is more severe on one side of the head. Although both men and women suffer from alopecia, it differs from baldness usually seen in men, which often runs in families. A weakened immune system could induce alopecia in humans, and the condition may be linked to genes passed from parent to child.
Despite the lack of clinical evidence linking vitamin D and hair loss, some vitamin distributors promote hair loss supplements. Although experts do not recommend such supplements, vitamin D is necessary to support calcium absorption. The body makes vitamin D after exposure to sunlight, but people who live in sunny climates may still be deficient in the vitamin. Vitamin D is also found in certain foods, including dairy products, cereals fortified with extra vitamins, and fish.
Vitamin D deficiency could cause osteoporosis, especially in women after menopause, and precipitates rickets in children. Too much of the vitamin can also be harmful. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can create calcium deposits in the heart or lungs. The development of kidney stones can also be caused by an excess of vitamin D.
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