Vitamin E to combat white hair?

Hair whitening, also known as canities, is a completely natural phenomenon that affects every individual. It typically occurs around the age of 35, although some people who are genetically more fortunate still have coloured hair at 50. Apart from heredity, several factors can accelerate hair depigmentation, including oxidative stress. Indeed, several studies conducted with smokers and/or people frequently exposed to the sun have shown that free radicals damage the melanocytes, the cells that synthesise melanin. One of the main pathways through which oxidative stress causes permanent damage to melanocytes appears to involve the mitochondria, whose DNA is particularly fragile. As a reminder, mitochondria are intracellular organelles found notably in melanocytes and are essential for cell function. The accumulation of mutations in melanocytes due to attacks from free radicals hinders the synthesis of melanin and leads to premature whitening of hair fibres.

One of the ways to prevent greying is therefore through the protection of melanocytes and their organelles from free radicals. This is the role of the body's antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and ubiquinone, but their activity and number are sometimes insufficient. An external supply of antioxidants may then prove useful. Vitamin E is a good candidate for this. Indeed, its aromatic chemical structure allows it to neutralise free radicals by donating an electron, thus preventing them from altering melanocytes. Vitamin E could therefore protect melanocytes from oxidative stress and prevent the loss of melanin in the hair. However, while it seems relevant to think that this molecule, taken orally or applied topically, could slow down hair whitening, no scientific study has to date demonstrated this effect. Several studies conducted on vitamin E have illustrated its photoprotective action on hair fibres but have not allowed to conclude as to its ability to slow down greying.

Despite its antioxidant properties, it is currently impossible to assert that vitamin E can prevent the onset of grey hair.

When white hair becomes a source of insecurity and embarrassment, it may be time to take action to recolour it. There are treatments available for this purpose, but they generally yield mixed results. As for vitamin E, no scientific evidence has so far been provided regarding its effects on white hair. Moreover, white hair is not solely due to the loss of melanocyte activity, but also to the gradual decrease in their number. Therefore, even if vitamin E could reach the melanocytes and stimulate melanogenesis, it would only have an effect if there are still melanocytes present in the hair follicles.

Advice : Today, the best way to combat white hair is to request a hair dye from your hairdresser. Although the result obtained is temporary, it is the most effective method to regain your colour.

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• TRUEB R. M. Pharmacological interventions in ageing hair. Clinical Interventions in Ageing (2006).

• CODERCH L. & al. Efficacy of antioxidants in human hair. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology (2012).

• SEIBERG M. Age-induced hair greying - the multiple effects of oxidative stress.International Journal of Cosmetic Science(2013).

• TRUEB R. M. The impact of oxidative stress on hair. International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2015).