Vitamin d hair growth
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
The Role of Vitamin D in Hair Growth
Vitamin D and Hair Follicle Biology
Vitamin D, particularly its active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, plays a crucial role in the regulation of hair follicle biology. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is essential for normal hair follicle function. Studies have shown that mice lacking VDR develop alopecia, indicating that VDR is necessary for hair follicle cycling and maintenance 236. The absence of VDR leads to defects in hair follicle morphogenesis and the inability to initiate new hair cycles post-morphogenesis 67.
Vitamin D Receptor and Hair Growth
The VDR is expressed in the basal layer of the epidermis and the outer root sheath of hair follicles. Research involving transgenic mice expressing human VDR in the skin has demonstrated that VDR is required for the initiation of the postnatal hair follicle cycle. Mice lacking VDR fail to initiate the hair cycle, leading to alopecia, whereas those with targeted VDR expression in the skin exhibit normal hair growth . This highlights the critical role of VDR in hair follicle homeostasis and cycling .
Vitamin D3 Analogs and Hair Growth Stimulation
Vitamin D3 analogs have been found to stimulate hair growth in animal models. In a study involving nude mice with congenital alopecia, treatment with vitamin D3 analogs significantly promoted hair growth. The analogs induced the formation of normal hair follicles and increased the expression of specific keratins, suggesting that they act on keratinocytes to initiate hair follicle cycling . This indicates the potential therapeutic use of vitamin D3 analogs in promoting hair growth.
Oral Vitamin D3 Therapy for Telogen Effluvium
Clinical studies have also explored the efficacy of oral vitamin D3 therapy in treating diffuse hair loss conditions such as telogen effluvium (TE). In a study conducted in South Punjab, Pakistan, women with TE showed significant improvement in hair growth after receiving oral vitamin D3 therapy. The treatment resulted in hair regrowth in 82.5% of the patients, highlighting the potential benefits of vitamin D3 supplementation in managing hair loss .
Vitamin D and Hair Growth Mechanisms
The mechanisms by which vitamin D influences hair growth involve several pathways. One study found that conditioned medium from vitamin D3-activated preadipocytes promoted hair regeneration in mice. This effect was associated with increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and enhanced angiogenesis, suggesting that vitamin D3 may stimulate hair growth through the promotion of blood vessel formation in the scalp .
Conclusion
Vitamin D, through its receptor VDR, plays a vital role in hair follicle biology and hair growth. The absence of VDR leads to alopecia, while targeted expression of VDR can rescue hair growth. Vitamin D3 analogs and oral vitamin D3 therapy have shown promise in stimulating hair growth and treating hair loss conditions. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and optimize the therapeutic use of vitamin D in hair growth.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic