Nutrients for Beautiful Hair

The recommended daily iron intake is approximately 1 mg for men and about 2 mg for women. Iron deficiency is a known cause of hair loss. The cells of the hair follicle are among the fastest dividing cells in the body, and an iron deficiency can contribute to hair loss due to its role as a cofactor for ribonucleotide reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in DNA synthesis. Additionally, numerous genes have been identified in the human hair follicle, some of which may be regulated by iron.

Opting for iron supplementation can be beneficial to prevent hair loss. Among iron-rich foods, we find soybeans (6.5 mg/portion), oysters and mussels (5 to 6.3 mg/portion), lentils (3.3 to 4.9 mg/portion), spinach (3.4 mg/portion), tofu (2.4 mg/portion) and chickpeas (2.2 mg/portion).

The long-term effects of amino acids on hair aging are possible. It has been demonstrated that the amino acid taurine promotes the survival of follicular cells in vitro, and that L-carnitine stimulates hair follicle cells. In a randomized study involving 30 women, a supplement of L-cysteine in combination with medicinal yeast and pantothenic acid led to the prevention of the temporal loss of several thousand hairs. It is also attributed with antioxidant properties, to prevent hair oxidation by free radicals resulting in damage to the hair fibre and the appearance of grey hair.

A study examined the role of L-lysine, an essential amino acid that may play a part in the absorption of iron and zinc. The addition of L-lysine to iron supplementation resulted in an increase in the average serum ferritin concentration in some women suffering from diffuse alopecia who did not respond to iron supplementation alone. Although interesting, the available data are limited, and the role of L-lysine should be the subject of further studies.

Further studies are needed to increase the evidence of the effect of amino acids on hair.

Zinc is an essential mineral. We need to consume about 10 g per day, adjusted according to individual circumstances. Zinc deficiency can also lead to hair loss. However, it can be reversed. A study demonstrated the reversal of hair loss following oral supplementation in five patients with zinc deficiency. Another study involving patients with hair loss showed that they all had lower zinc concentrations compared to healthy controls.

However, there is currently little information on the effects of zinc supplementation on hair growth in individuals without a confirmed deficiency.

Foods rich in zinc include oysters (32 mg/serving), beef (3.8 mg/serving), cereals (2.3 mg/serving), pumpkin seeds (2.2 mg/serving), turkey (1.5 mg/serving), and shrimp (1.4 mg/serving).