How Can I Find Out If I Have A Vitamin D Deficiency
If you suspect you may have a vitamin D deficiency, you may be right. But that doesnt mean you should go grab supplements. Your first step should be a visit to your healthcare provider for a simple blood test to figure out if you need more vitamin D 60190-0/fulltext rel=nofollow> Kennel, 2010).
If your healthcare provider finds that your levels are low, your best bet is to make sure youre getting enough vitamin D through your diet. There are two forms of vitamin D: D2 and D3. We get vitamin D2 by eating certain plants and mushrooms. While you can get vitamin D3 from the sun, most of us dont spend enough time outside to fulfill our vitamin D needs. Luckily, though, you can also get your vitamin D3 by consuming foods like fatty fish, eggs, and milk .
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you add a supplement to your routine to ensure that you replenish your vitamin D stores. Not all supplements are created equal, though. Make sure to pick one from a reputable brand.
Vitamin D Supplements: How Much Is Too Much
It is possible to get too much of a good thing, though. Constipation, kidney stones, and changes to your normal heart rhythm are possible if you are consuming too much Vitamin D. The risks are relatively low though. Youd have to take more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 every day to see any evidence of toxicity.
A good course of action is to have your doctor order tests for your Vitamin D levels during your annual physical. That will ensure you dont exceed healthy levels.
Vitamin D And Your Health
Vitamin D, nicknamed the sunshine vitamin because your body produces it after sun exposure, has long been known to help build strong bones by increasing the bodys absorption of calcium and phosphorous. But beginning in 2000, research into vitamin Ds role in other health conditions began to expand rapidly.
While there is strong support for vitamin Ds role in bone health, the evidence that it prevents other health conditions is not yet conclusive, says Dr. Manson. Research on vitamin D and calcium supplementation has been mixed and, especially when it comes to randomized clinical trials, has been generally disappointing to date, she says.
Dr. Manson was a principal investigator of the recently published Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial , a large study . The study found that those taking a vitamin D supplement did not lower rates of heart attack, stroke, or cancer. However, among people who later developed cancer, those who took vitamin D supplements for at least two years had a 25% lower chance of dying from their cancer compared with those who received a placebo.
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The Benefits Of Vitamin A For Your Hair
The body needs Vitamin A, period! Your bodys cells require Vitamin A for growth. Since hair is actually the fastest growing tissue in the body, it needs a lot of help from vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to do so.
- Sebum Vitamin A helps skin glands to create a substance known as sebum. Sebum allows the skin and follicles to remain hydrated and moisturized. As we know, abundant and healthy follicles are necessary for producing hair strands. The more healthy follicles, the thicker and more lucious your hair will be!
- Oily / Moisture Oil on your scalp and hair is a good thing! Many shampoos and products aim to strip away these natural oils. However, the oil produced at your follicles and glands is required for healthy hair growth. Without it, your hair will become dry, brittle, and over time breakage may occur causing hair to appear thin and lifeless. Keep that hydration coming!
Other good sources of Vitamin A include animal by-products such as milk, eggs, and yogurt.
Visit the Better Not Younger product page for a full list of ingredients and an easy-to-order check out. These gummies act as that special boost to give your hair the care it needs. The Significant Other dietary supplement strengthen your roots and promote healthy hair growth along with unbeatable shine.
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Vitamins And Minerals That Cause Hair Loss When Consumed In Excess
Whilst cases involving toxic levels of vitamins or minerals being found in the bloodstream are still rare, seeing what Dr. Katz describes as higher than optimal levels is more likely now.
The following four vitamins and minerals are examples of those that are good for hair and scalp health when taken in moderation. However, if your intake increases and you are regularly consuming more than your daily allowance, they can all lead to hair loss by triggering a condition called Telogen Effluvium. Please note all RDA amounts mentioned below are based on the daily requirements for the average adult leading a normal lifestyle.
Selenium RDA 55 micrograms
In America, the The National Institutes of Health reported that too much selenium in the blood can cause hair loss. Whilst some foodstuffs, including eggs and vitamin drinks, are available in selenium-enriched formulas, it is actually brazil nuts pack the biggest punch here. These festive favourites are loaded with the nutrient and as just one or two brazil nuts contain the full recommended allowance, these snacks can easily tip you over the limit.
Vitamin A RDA 800 micrograms
Zinc RDA 10 milligrams
Vitamin E RDA 3 milligrams 4 milligrams
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Iron Deficiency Treatments And Considerations
While it can affect men and women of all ages, often younger women are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia after seeking medical advice about thinning hair. Hair typically regrows after iron is restored .
A few things to consider if you think you may be suffering from hair loss due to an iron deficiency include:
- Testing for iron deficiency often includes a test of the iron in the blood and a separate test to check levels of iron stored in the body .
- Vegans and vegetarians are at higher risk for iron deficiency they need 1.8 times the amount of non-heme iron .
- Some medications, calcium, and beverages like coffee, tea, and wine can affect iron absorption, especially non-heme iron .
- Vitamin C intake helps the body absorb iron. .
- Check with your healthcare provider about what type and when to supplement iron .
- Foods high in iron include red meat, seafood, poultry, beans, lentils, fortified breads and cereals, nuts, dried fruits .
Too much iron can be life-threatening your healthcare provider should carefully guide and monitor you if you take an iron supplement .
Natural Sources Of Vitamin D
There are three main forms of vitamin D: sunlight exposure, dietary sources, and supplements. The best source of vitamin D is through direct sunlight exposure since its impossible to get too much vitamin D intake from it. Theres no exact number on how often you need exposure to sunlight to get enough doses of vitamin D, but some researchers recommend at least 15 minutes of sun exposure three times per week. This may be enough exposure to the suns UV-B rays to give you the vitamin B you need. This can vary on factors like the season and where you live.
You can also get your doses of vitamin D from certain food sources. Some good dietary sources include:
- Fish liver oils
Most of the food sources are from animal food, which may be unavailable to those with vegan and vegetarian diets. In this case, your doctor may recommend taking supplements.
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Do Hair Vitamins Really Work
On this topic, Consumer Reports noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not tightly regulate vitamins and nutritional supplements or all of the claims made about them. So, while Consumer Reports did agree that vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin B complex, Vitamin A, etc., can reverse hair loss from a vitamin deficiency, they also caution that it wont correct hair loss from other causes and that some labels do not properly reflect the contents. One example the magazine cites is a brand of multivitamin that had 200 times the amount of selenium than the label listed. While selenium is essential for good hair growth, excessive selenium can cause hair loss.
Vitamin D Hair Loss: What To Do
If youve noticed your hair shedding or looking thin and think that it could be due to a vitamin D deficiency, talk to your healthcare provider.
They will be able to test you for a vitamin D deficiency and, if appropriate, may recommend using a vitamin D supplement.
You may also be able to increase your vitamin D levels by changing your diet to include more foods that contain vitamin D, or by spending 10 to 15 minutes outside during sunny weather a few times each week.
There are numerous reasons that you might lose hair. While a vitamin D deficiency could be a cause of your hair loss, it may also be due to male pattern baldness, stress, use of medication or many other factors.
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Do Vitamin D Supplements Work
Getting enough Vitamin D in your diet is difficult as there are very few sources of Vitamin D in a dietary form. This coupled with increasingly sedentary lifestyles means that more and more people suffer from lack of Vitamin D or low Vitamin D levels.
If you feel that you arent getting enough Vitamin D through your diet and sunlight, consult with a doctor about supplementation. However, taking too much Vitamin D can produce a lot of calcium in your bones and can even damage the kidneys and heart. Taking more than 100 mcg of Vitamin D can be harmful so it is essential to be careful about your dosages.
If you have any underlying medical conditions which may impact your ability to consume supplements you must ensure you take advice from your doctor before starting any kind of supplementation regimen.
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What To Do If Vitamin A Has Caused Hair Loss
If you believe you have lost some of your hair as a result of taking too much Vitamin A, then you will need to stop or drastically reduce your intake of the vitamin. Vitamin A stores in the liver, so your body will need to use up all of the reserve before you should consider taking any more Vitamin A. if you have been taking a supplement, it may be advisable to simply get your Vitamin A from foods while your body using up its stores and returns to normal. Once your nutrient levels have evened out, your hair should grow back properly.
If theres another reason for your hair loss, then too much Vitamin A could make the problem worse. In this case you will need to see your doctor to discuss the root cause of your hair loss and find out what the best course of action is.
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Vitamin D Supplement Safety
Your body produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun, but many people may not get enough due to a variety of factors. Because of this, people often turn to vitamin D supplements. Unfortunately, it isnt uncommon for people to overdo it.
A 2017 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that between 1999 and 2014, there was an increase in the number of American adults taking daily vitamin D supplements of 1,000 IU or more. Of these, 18% exceeded 1000 IU each day and 3% took more than 4,000 IU per day, which may place them at a higher risk of experiencing some adverse effects related to excessive vitamin D.
In most cases, you can get all of the vitamin D you need naturally without supplementation through sun exposure and diet. A 15-minute walk outside each day with your extremities exposed can boost vitamin D production. .
Eating foods that are naturally high in vitamin D or are fortified with the nutrient can help. Foods you can eat to boost your vitamin D levels include:
- Fortified milk, yogurt, or juice
- Fatter fish such as tuna or salmon
If you do decide to take a vitamin D supplement to correct a deficiency or because you are unable to get an adequate amount through sunlight and diet, always follow your doctor’s guidelines and do not take more than recommended amounts.
Uncoupling Protein Is A Misleading Name It Makes It Sound Like Something Its Not
Thats because shortly after a scientist named David Nicholls discovered it in the late 1970s in brown adipose tissue, he started calling it uncoupling protein.
Originally it was called thermogenin because of its ability to raise body temperature in fat cells in mice.
But Dr. Nicholls wrongly assumed that the mice were creating heat without affecting their metabolism in any way.
He thought the heat was created by uncoupling the mitochondria from ATP synthesis and energy production.
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How Much Vitamin D Is Necessary For Hair Loss
Like all other vitamins and minerals, as long as you have adequate levels of vitamin D and youre getting your recommended daily intake and have regular vitamin D levels, you should be able to avoid getting a vitamin D deficiency and experiencing symptoms like hair loss.
The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D for adults is 600 IU daily for both men and women aged 19 to 69 years old. For men and women 70 years old and above, they need more vitamin D every day with 800 IU.
The tolerable upper intake level for adults and children older than 9 years old is 4,000 IU. This is the maximum vitamin D level your body can have that wont result in harmful effects on your body. Any more than this, and you could be at risk of hypervitaminosis D or vitamin D toxicity. This is a condition where you have high vitamin D levels in your body to the point that its becoming toxic and leading to multiple negative effects.
The risk of vitamin D toxicity in the average person is extremely rare because youd need to take very large amounts of vitamin D for it to become toxic. However, its still possible to develop toxic levels of vitamin D if you have:
- Granulomatous disorders
- Accidentally overdosed on vitamin D
- Are taking the wrong prescription of vitamin D
- Are taking extremely high amounts of vitamin D
How Long Will It Take For Vitamin D To Reverse Hair Loss
Hair growth cycle takes months, so even if you start correcting your vitamin D levels, you wont likely see any significant benefit for at least three months.
However, I generally advise people that they should wait at least 6 months before evaluating whether or not something has worked.
This is because we can go through at least one or two cycles before the hair follicle functions normally again and produces hair that is both visible and strong. And is able to reach terminal length without falling out too early.
The earlier you catch the deficiency, the more chance you have of regrowing your hair.
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Elevated Blood Calcium Levels
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. In fact, this is one of its most important roles.
However, if your vitamin D intake is excessive, your blood calcium may reach levels that can cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms.
The symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are primarily related to hypercalcemia, which means excessively high blood calcium levels (
Hypercalcemia typically develops after people take megadoses of vitamin D for a prolonged period of time.
For example, a 2015 case study reported that an older man with dementia who received 50,000 IU of vitamin D daily for 6 months was repeatedly hospitalized with symptoms related to high calcium levels .
In the 2020 case report mentioned earlier, the woman who took an average of 130,000 IU of vitamin D per day for 20 months was also hospitalized for symptoms related to hypercalcemia .
These included nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and kidney injury. Her blood calcium levels were 3.23 mmol/L (
However, not all people with hypercalcemia experience the exact same symptoms.
One woman experienced nausea and weight loss after taking a supplement that was later found to contain 78 times more vitamin D than stated on the label .
Importantly, these symptoms occurred in response to extremely high doses of vitamin D3, which led to calcium levels greater than 12 mg/dL.
How Long Do Vitamin D Supplements Take To Work For Hair Loss
Hair growth vitamins such as vitamin D supplements are said to help curb alopecia and balding to a certain extent. Vitamin D deficiency is believed to cause certain types of hair loss problems, namely alopecia areata and male pattern baldness. Low vitamin D levels may be associated with a poor hair growth cycle which can result in slow regrowth that could aggravate hair thinning and the appearance of bald spots.
Several trials have proven that addressing vitamin D insufficiency with supplements can promote healthier hair growth and active hair follicles. In one study, a 45 year old female diagnosed with diffuse hair loss was treated with vitamin D supplements for three months. She received a 1000 IU of vitamin D every day and in the first month of her medication, the patient experienced decreased amounts of hair fall.
At the end of the three-month observation period, the researchers had noted restoration of healthy scalp and active hair regrowth. What worked for the patient was correcting her vitamin deficiency with necessary supplements to get her nutrients and vitamin levels back to normal.
Results of vitamin D supplementation for hair care and hair loss treatment can still vary depending on the severity of a persons hair loss symptoms. There are also several factors that should be considered when deciding to take the hair growth vitamins:
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