Vitamin b12 hair growth
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The Role of Vitamin B12 in Hair Growth
Vitamin B12 and Hair Follicle Activation
Wnt-Pathway Activation by Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, has been shown to play a significant role in promoting hair growth by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in human hair follicle cells. Research indicates that vitamin B12 induces the expression of beta-catenin, a crucial protein in the Wnt pathway, while simultaneously inhibiting the transcription of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), an enzyme that negatively regulates this pathway. This dual action results in enhanced hair shaft elongation (HSE) in a dose-dependent manner, with higher concentrations of vitamin B12 leading to more pronounced effects .
Hair Shaft Elongation and Beta-Catenin Induction
In vitro studies have demonstrated that hair follicles cultured with vitamin B12 exhibit significant increases in hair shaft elongation. Specifically, concentrations of 2.5 µg/ml and 25 µg/ml of vitamin B12 resulted in HSE increases of 6.2% and 15.4%, respectively. This elongation is accompanied by a substantial induction of beta-catenin mRNA, with fold changes of 9.5 and 23.1 for the respective concentrations, indicating a robust activation of the Wnt pathway .
Counteracting Cortisone-Induced Hair Growth Inhibition
Vitamin B12 and Cortisone Interaction
Another study explored the effects of vitamin B12 on hair growth in the context of cortisone-induced inhibition. In this study, immature male albino rats on a vitamin B12-deficient diet were injected with cortisone, which typically suppresses body, hair, and thymus growth. However, the addition of vitamin B12 to their diet significantly mitigated these negative effects. The rats receiving vitamin B12 showed improved hair growth, suggesting that vitamin B12 can counteract the growth-inhibitory effects of cortisone .
Enhanced Food Conversion Efficiency
The study also noted that vitamin B12 not only improved hair growth but also increased food consumption and the efficiency of converting food into body weight gains. This indicates that vitamin B12 may enhance overall metabolic efficiency, further supporting its role in promoting hair growth under stress conditions such as cortisone administration .
Conclusion
Vitamin B12 has been shown to promote hair growth through multiple mechanisms. It activates the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to increased hair shaft elongation and beta-catenin expression, while also counteracting the inhibitory effects of cortisone on hair growth. These findings highlight the potential of vitamin B12 as a therapeutic agent for enhancing hair growth and combating hair loss under various conditions.
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