Vitamins For Hair Growth

Taking vitamins for hair growth has long been a subject of interest and debate for sufferers of male pattern baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia (aka androgenic alopecia) afflicts millions of men worldwide and interestingly seems to be prevalent in populations that have adapted to a colder climate. There is in fact some suggestion that male pattern baldness could be an evolutionary mechanism to help protect men against prostate cancer.

So how does that argument work? Well, having less hair directly enhances the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the top of the head and UV radiation is believed to reduce the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. This has led some researchers to suggest that male pattern baldness, far from being a risk factor for prostate cancer, is in fact a finely tuned evolutionary mechanism to help protect men from prostate cancer.

However, what is now clear is that the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is manufactured from the enzyme testosterone by another enzymes called 5 alpha reductase (5-AR), makes a significant contribution, not only to prostate enlargement, but to male pattern baldness as well. This of course would explain why Hippocrates in 400 BC was able to note that eunuchs did not lose their hair (no testosterone for the 5-AR to work on). But don't think you need to endure the “unkindest cut of all” if you want to hang on to your hair or simply make hair grow faster, because men with a 5-AR deficiency also have a DHT deficiency, and therefore fail to develop androgenetic alopecia.

So, can we counter the effects of 5-AR and still hang on to our... um..., “gentleman's undercarriage”? Well, happily, it might just be possible, because there are actually a few freely available vitamins and supplements that seem to inhibit the action of 5-AR and so might possibly help to inhibit the progress of male pattern baldness. This article takes a look at several of them and the first one we need to consider is plain old zinc and its interaction with vitamin B6.

There have been several studies in which zinc has been shown to have an inhibiting effect on the activity of 5-AR. Because of this, some researchers have suggested that Zinc could be beneficial in disorders related to DHT activity. We know that zinc is involved in hundreds of biological processes in our bodies and up to 20% of it seems to be used by our skin. Most of the published 5-AR/DHT research has, to date, concentrated on studies involving the prostate gland, but the results seem to show that when levels of zinc are low the 5-AR conversion of testosterone to DHT is increased, but at higher zinc levels the production of DHT is significantly inhibited. The most readily absorbed form of zinc is zinc citrate and the presence of vitamin B6 seems to have a synergistic effect that can significantly increase the efficacy and bio-availability of zinc.

Another substance that is worthy of consideration is azelaic acid. Azelaic acid is a natural organic acid found in wheat, barley and rye. It is a very popular component of hair and skin conditioners and is commonly used in the treatment of acne. However, recent attention has focused on its use in the treatment of male pattern baldness as some studies have suggested that azelaic acid, just like zinc, can significantly inhibit the production of DHT. Encouragingly, azelaic acid also seems to have a boosting effect on the ability of zinc to slow DHT production, and a combination of zinc sulphate, vitamin B6 and azelaic acid seems to be an extremely potent 5-AR inhibitor. In fact 5-AR inhibition rates of up to 90% have been claimed by some studies when zinc and azelaic acid are boosted by the presence of vitamin B6. To date, however, there have been no full-scale clinical hair loss treatment trials to back up this very promising claim.

Saw palmetto extract has long been known as an effective anti-androgen. It has been called nature's very own Propecia and does seem to act in a somewhat similar way. Saw palmetto benefits users by lowering DHT levels by blocking the activity of our old friend 5-AR. In addition, saw palmetto also has the ability to block the receptor sites on cell membranes where DHT molecules would normally attach themselves.

Clinical trials have already been carried out on use of saw palmetto extract in the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. This is a condition which, just like male pattern baldness, is affected by the production of DHT. There is now a significant body of research that suggests that saw palmetto is indeed an effective anti-androgen and is quite effective in the treatment of benign prostrate enlargement.

Sadly, however, there have so far been no large scale clinical trials to study the effect of saw palmetto on hair loss. This hasn't stopped many from speculating that saw palmetto hair loss products could be an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Saw palmetto seems to be most effective when combined with vitamins B1, B2, C, E and the bioflavonoid Quercetin, and some hair growth products are now starting to add saw palmetto to their list of ingredients.

One of the most important nutrients to prevent hair loss is probably folic acid (vitamin B9). Folic acid is essential for normal, healthy cell growth and many other bodily functions. A shortage of folic acid in the diet can cause a great many problems and it is vital for the production of healthy hair and skin. Vitamin B9 can be found in many natural foods, including dark green leafy vegetables, beans, soy, asparagus, kelp, rice, oranges, strawberries, yeast, beef, and liver. Unfortunately, we don't eat enough of these folate-rich foods and tend to overcook them when we do.

Biotin (aka vitamin B7 and vitamin H) is another B vitamin essential for healthy hair growth. One of the first symptoms of biotin deficiency is often sudden hair loss that can even result in the complete loss of eyelashes and eyebrows in individuals with a severe biotin deficiency. Several biotin hair growth shampoos are now being marketed, but their effectiveness is somewhat doubtful as biotin is not really absorbed through the skin to any great extent. Oral biotin hair growth supplements and foods rich in vitamin B7 are likely to be far more effective at raising biotin levels in the body.

The final vitamin for consideration in this article is vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a very significant role in a great many vital biological processes, including cell division, cell differentiation, immune system regulation and bone growth. It is also vital for healthy skin and hair. Too much vitamin A can actually cause hair loss, but don't worry – we certainly don't need to worry about or supplement our intake, as vitamin A deficiency is extremely rare in healthy individuals.

So, how to make your hair grow faster and thicker? Well, there are plenty of natural treatments out there, but your first step should probably be to make sure you are getting all the vitamin Bs your body needs, and there's no reason you can't do this with a healthy, natural diet. If you suspect you are suffering from any form of vitamin deficiency, then you should of course consult a qualified medical practitioner. But, for most of us, a diet rich in natural vitamins and minerals is a great place to start.