B12 deficiency hair loss
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Hair Loss: An Overview
Chronic Telogen Effluvium and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) is a common form of diffuse hair loss characterized by the abrupt onset of shedding telogen hairs for more than six months. Research indicates that micronutrients, including Vitamin B12, play a crucial role in the normal hair follicle cycle. A case-control study comparing Vitamin B12 levels in CTE patients to controls found that 60% of CTE patients had Vitamin B12 deficiency, compared to only 26% in the control group, suggesting a significant association between Vitamin B12 deficiency and CTE 1.
Reversible Hair Pigmentation Changes Due to Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to various mucocutaneous manifestations, including changes in hair pigmentation. Cases have been reported where Vitamin B12 deficiency caused reversible hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation of hair. For instance, a child with Vitamin B12 deficiency exhibited sparse, lusterless, hypopigmented hair, which returned to normal after Vitamin B12 supplementation 3. Similarly, another case documented reversible premature gray hair due to Vitamin B12 deficiency, which normalized following treatment with intramuscular cyanocobalamin 2.
Hair Loss in Pregnant Women and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Pregnancy is a period marked by significant physiological changes, including alterations in micronutrient levels, which can affect hair growth and quality. A study investigating the relationship between various micronutrients and hair loss in pregnant women found that those experiencing severe hair loss during their last two trimesters had significantly lower levels of zinc, hemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), ferritin, and Vitamin B12 compared to non-pregnant women. This suggests that Vitamin B12 deficiency, among other micronutrient deficiencies, may contribute to hair loss during pregnancy 4.
Conclusion
The evidence strongly suggests that Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with various forms of hair loss, including chronic telogen effluvium and hair pigmentation changes. Additionally, pregnant women with severe hair loss often exhibit lower Vitamin B12 levels. Addressing Vitamin B12 deficiency through dietary adjustments or supplementation could potentially mitigate hair loss and improve hair health in affected individuals.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Serum Vitamin B12 in chronic telogen effluvium patients: A case–control study
Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in chronic telogen effluvium patients than in controls.
Reversible hyperpigmentation of skin and nails with white hair due to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause reversible hyperpigmentation of skin and nails with premature gray hair, but treatment with intramuscular cyanocobalamin can restore normal pigmentation.
Case ReportREVERSIBLE HYPOPIGMENTATION OF HAIR SECONDARY TO VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause reversible hypopigmentation of hair in children, with improved general condition and normalizing hemoglobin levels after treatment.
Case ReportEffect of zinc, ferritin, and vitamin B12 deficiency on hair loss in pregnant women
Pregnant women with severe hair loss during their last two trimesters have lower zinc, hemoglobin, PCV, ferritin, and vitamin B12 levels, but not vitamin D or TSH levels.
Rigorous JournalThe Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review
Micronutrients play a crucial role in normal hair follicle development and immune cell function, and deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for alopecia.
Systematic Review
Highly CitedVitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency affects individuals of all ages, particularly the elderly, and is caused by inadequate intake, bioavailability, or malabsorption, with management relying on B12 supplementation.
Highly CitedVitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to serious clinical consequences, and diagnosis and management require careful consideration of individual factors and dietary habits.
Systematic Review
Very Rigorous JournalHighly CitedVitamin B12 deficiency in children from Northern India: Time to reconsider nutritional handicaps
Two-thirds of anemic children in Northern India have vitamin B12 deficiency, with neurological manifestations predominant in younger children and hematological abnormalities more frequent in older children.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalNutritional Recovery Batwing Dystonia in Infantile Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Injectable B12 treatment for infantile B12 deficiency can cause transient batwing dystonia, potentially due to basal ganglia dysfunction.
Rigorous JournalA Review of Vitamin B12 in Dermatology
Vitamin B12 deficiency and excess can lead to various dermatological manifestations, including hyperpigmentation, hair and nail changes, and oral changes.
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