Vitamin D3 for Hair Growth
DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Vitamin D3 can help restore hair growth in a variety of hair loss conditions that are becoming common and affecting millions of people nowadays. Though hair loss isn’t a life-threatening health condition, it often appears distressing and affects a person’s quality of life.
Although there are many contributing factors of hair loss such as genetics, diseases, environments, and nutritional deficiencies, low levels of vitamin D3 which is found in almost every country in the world, are also a leading contributing factor and one of the major causes of hair loss.
In this article, we’ll cover how vitamin D3 is linked with hair loss and how it can help reverse hair loss and restore natural hair growth. Let’s get started.
Table of contents
- What is hair loss?
- Symptoms of hair loss
- What is vitamin D3?
- The link between vitamin D3 and hair loss
- How vitamin D3 can help restore hair growth
- How to take vitamin D3
- Precautions and side effects
- Final words
What is hair loss?
Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, is a condition in which one can experience excessive loss of hair on the scalp, causing baldness. It may also affect the entire body and can be both temporary as well as permanent.
While many people try to cover their baldness with makeup, hairstyles, scarves, and hats, others prefer to leave it open and unhidden. And still, very few choose to treat their hair loss and restore natural hair growth pursuing one of the treatments available such as vitamin D3 supplement.
Symptoms of hair loss
Hair loss might affect different people in different ways, depending on the underlying root causes. It may develop gradually or can come suddenly and may affect just only the scalp or the entire body.
Common symptoms of hair loss may include:
- Gradual thinning on the scalp with aging
- Patchy or circular bald spots
- Sudden excess hair loss
- Hair loss on the whole body
- Patches of infection such as ringworm
What is vitamin D3?
Vitamin D3, scientifically known as cholecalciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s essential for many vital bodily functions and optimum health. It’s one of two forms of vitamin D along with vitamin D2.
Vitamin D3 has been found more effective (almost twice) in raising vitamin D levels in the body compared to vitamin D2.
This vital nutrient can be synthesized in the skin during exposure to sunlight and can also be stored in the body for a very limited period for later use. Due to rapid depletion, vitamin D3 can’t be stored in the body fat for a long time particularly during the winters.
Vitamin D3 is crucial for almost every cell in the body and it plays a key role in many vital processes such as the immune system, bone health, and may even help protect the body from cancers.
The link between vitamin D3 and hair loss
Deficiency of vitamin D3 has been described to be closely linked with a range of hair loss conditions including alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and female pattern hair loss.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which a person experiences hair fall in clumps and in a telogen effluvium condition a person has excess hair shedding due to higher levels of stress.
Studies have suggested that various autoimmune diseases are linked with the scarcity of vitamin D3 in the body. Vitamin D3 has substantial anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects and can prevent autoimmune conditions that may cause hair loss.
According to Arielle Levitan, MD, a renowned internal medicine practitioner in Chicago,
“There’s a link between vitamin D deficiency and alopecia, and it’s often one of the common causes of thinning hair or hair loss in men or women”.
How vitamin D3 can help restore hair growth
Vitamin D3 plays an important role in the process of developing new hair follicles and helps improve hair growth.
A 2020 study in the International Journal of Dermatology suggested that there’s an obvious correlation between the severity of alopecia and vitamin D deficiency, and supplementation of vitamin D can be validated in the progression of alopecia.
A scientific review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences revealed that supplementing with vitamin D can be a potential therapeutic option for patients with non-scarring alopecia including female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, and alopecia areata.
A 2012 study conducted in Japan found that vitamin D3 helps develop new hair follicles and also helps revive dormant follicles.
How to take vitamin D3
The actual dosage of vitamin D3 may vary depending on age and deficiency levels. In general, for adults, the daily recommended dosages of vitamin D3 supplement may range from 600 IU (15 mcg) to 800 IU (20 mcg).
For babies, a dosage of 400 IU (10 mcg) of vitamin D3 might be given. For people with severe vitamin D deficiency, the Endocrine Society suggests a daily intake of 1000 IU to 2000 IU for restoring optimum levels.
However, always consult with a licensed nutritionist or healthcare professional before starting a vitamin D3 supplement.
Precautions and side effects
Vitamin D3 appears safe in recommended doses. Overdose may cause some side effects such as fatigue, weakness, metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, or constipation.
Always consult with your doctor before taking vitamin D3 supplement especially if you’re susceptible to allergies, or pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Final words
Vitamin D3 is a crucial nutrient for the human body and its deficiency not only affects normal hair growth but also bones, muscles, teeth, heart, and mood. Supplementing with vitamin D3 can be a great option for restoring hair growth and completing treatments of various types of hair loss issues.
Check out Vorst’s vitamin D3 supplements below:
Important resources:
- https://ro.co/health-guide/vitamin-d-hair-loss/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-hair-loss#forms-of-vitamin-d
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-d-to-take
- https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/hair-loss/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-hair-loss
- https://www.medicinenet.com/hair_loss/article.htm
- https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0915/p371.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29215595/
- https://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/the-importance-of-vitamin-d3-for-health-and-hair-growth/
- https://www.trichology.com/vitamin-d3-deficiency-and-hair-loss/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijd.14982