FACT: Vitamins, such as vitamin D, are needed to reduce hair loss
FACT: Chemotherapy reduces vitamin D
OBSERVATION: Vitamin D reduces hair loss due to chemotherapy: reasons include:
- Vitamin D can reduce the amount of chemo needed, so less hair is killed off
- Fewer chemo results in less reduction in Vitamin D
- Vitamin D can keep the hair healthy.
Google search "hair loss" chemotherapy "vitamin d" 3,60,000 hits Nov2019
Table of contents
- 68,400 Hair and Vitamin D results in Google Scholar - Dec 2022
- Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss - Nov 2022
- Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review – 2021
- Female pattern hair loss treatment augmented by Vitamin D – Jan 2022
- Great hair regrowth June 2012: Henry Lahore, admin of VitaminDWiki
- Observation: Vitamin D3 + cofactors + massage has worked extremely well for me.
- Meta-analysis of Vitamin D and Hair Loss 0 Feb 2010
- Female pattern hair loss VitD: 13.5 ng vs controls(no FP hair loss): 17.2 ng -2016
- See also web - graying hair is related to several vitamin D deficient diseases
- My beard growth, perhaps aided by Vitamin D and Zinc
- Dr. Greger: Low Zinc, too much Mercury, or smoking causes hair loss
- VitaminDWiki pages with HAIR in the title (13 as of Oct 2022)
- Vitamin D helps minoxidil (rogaine) re-grow hair
- Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review – 2021
- Female pattern hair loss treatment augmented by Vitamin D – Jan 2022
- Great hair regrowth June 2012: Henry Lahore, admin of VitaminDWiki
- Observation: Vitamin D3 + cofactors + massage has worked extremely well for me.
- Feb 2010 Meta-analysis of Vitamin D and Hair Loss
- Female pattern hair loss VitD: 13.5 ng vs controls(no FP hair loss): 17.2 ng -2016
- See also web - graying hair is related to several vitamin D deficient diseases
- My beard growth, perhaps aided by Vitamin D and Zinc
- Dr. Greger: Low Zinc, too much Mercury, or smoking causes hair loss
- VitaminDWiki pages with HAIR in the title (10 as of Jan 2022)
- Vitamin D helps minoxidil (rogaine) re-grow hair
- There have been
416548 visits to this page
68,400 Hair and Vitamin D results in Google Scholar - Dec 2022
Google Scholar here are some of them
- Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review - Sept 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14421 Abstract free, $15 to rent PDF
- Treatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study - Jan 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14743 Abstract free, $15 to rent PDF
- Efficacy of Oral Vitamin D3 Therapy in Patients Suffering from Diffuse Hair Loss (Telogen Effluvium) - 2021 200,000 IU once every 2 weeks helped after 6 sessions FREE PDF https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.67.68
- Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Hair Loss: Knowledge and Practice of Adult Female Population in Saudi Arabia, 2020 - http://libraryaplos.com/xmlui/handle/123456789/8180 FREE PDF of a survey
- Hyperpigmentation post laser hair removal in patients taking Vitamin D supplements - 2021 10.4103/jdds.jdds_60_19 2.6X increased Hyperpigmentation FREE PDF
- Vitamin D status in scarring and nonscarring alopecia - April 2018 6X increased risk-FREE PDF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.032
- Correlation of Vitamin D and Vitamin D Receptors in Chronic Telogen Effluvium in Females - 2020 PDF
Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss - Nov 2022
JAMA Dermatol doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.4867 PDF is behind a $40 paywall
The following images are clipped from DeepDyve
They cite only a single Vitamin D hair study which used oral 200,000 IU every two weeks
Would have been much more successful if vitamin D had been given topically to the scalp
PDF
Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review – 2021
J Cosmet Dermatol doi: 10.1111/jocd.14421
Kriteeka Saini 1, Venkataram Mysore 1Background: Vitamin D, a vitamin and hormone, plays an important role in dermatology and dermatotherapeutics, due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and regulation of keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. It also affects the hair cycle, and its role in hair loss is under constant research.
Objectives: This review aims to give a brief overview of vitamin D biology within the hair follicle, its role in etiopathogenesis, and the rationale for supplementation in various alopecias.
Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed to review relevant current literature and studies investigating the role of vitamin D in etiopathogenesis as a supplement and a potential therapeutic modality in hair loss.
Results and conclusion: Vitamin D is intricately involved in various signaling pathways of growth and differentiation of hair follicles. Most studies show an inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and non-scarring alopecias, such as telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and trichotillomania. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with scarring alopecia. However, conclusive studies to demonstrate the benefit of vitamin D administration in correcting hair loss and managing these conditions are lacking. Hence, further studies are needed before vitamin D can be routinely
References- Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3:118-126.
- Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:1911-1930.
- Amor KT, Rashid RM, Mirmirani P. Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):3.
- Gerkowicz A, Chyl-Surdacka K, Krasowska D, Chodorowska G. The role of vitamin D in non-scarring alopecia. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18:2653.
- Lin X, Meng X, Song Z. Vitamin D, and alopecia areata: possible roles in pathogenesis and potential implications for therapy. Am J Transl Res. 2019;11:5285-5300.
- Daroach M, Narang T, Saikia UN, et al. Correlation of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor expression in patients with alopecia areata: a clinical paradigm. Int J Dermatol. 2018;57:217-222.
- Sackett DL, Straus SE, et al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM, 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone Inc; 2000:173-177.
- Rasheed H, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, et al. Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss: do they play a role? Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26:101-107.
- Fawzi MMT, Mahmoud SB, Ahmed SF, Shaker OG. Assessment of vitamin D receptors in alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016;15:318-323.
- Tamer F, Yuksel ME, Karabag Y. Serum ferritin and vitamin D levels should be evaluated in patients with diffuse hair loss prior to treatment. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2020;37:407-411.
- Poonia K, Thami GP, Bhalla M, et al. NonScarring diffuse hair loss in women: a Clinico-Etiological Study from tertiary care center in North-West India. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019;18:401-407.
- Nayak K, Garg A, Mithra P, Manjrekar P. Serum vitamin D3 levels and diffuse hair fall among the student population in South India: a case-control study. Int J Trichology. 2016;8:160-164.
- Cheung EJ, Sink JR, English Iii JC. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies in patients with telogen effluvium: a retrospective cross-sectional study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15:1235-1237.
- Ruiz-Tagle S, Figueira M, Vial-Letelier V, et al. Micronutrients in hair loss. Our Dermatology Online. 2018;9:320-328.
- Sattar F, Almas U, Ibrahim NA, et al. Efficacy of oral vitamin D3 therapy in patients suffering from diffuse hair loss (Telogen Effluvium). J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2021;67:68-71.
- Mysore V, Parthasaradhi A, Kharkar R, et al. Expert consensus on the management of Telogen Effluvium in India. Int J Trichology. 2019;11:107-112.
- Banihashemi M, Nahidi Y, Meibodi NT, et al. Serum vitamin D3 level in patients with female pattern hair loss. Int J Trichology. 2016;8:116-120.
- Zhao J, Sheng Y, Dai C, et al. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, and male androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese population. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19:3115-3121.
- Sanke S, Samudrala S, Yadav A, et al. Study of serum vitamin D levels in men with premature androgenetic alopecia. Int J Dermatol. 2020;59:1113-1116.
- Narang T, Daroach M, Kumaran MS. Efficacy and safety of topical calcipotriol in management of alopecia areata: a pilot study. Dermatol Ther. 2017;30:e12464.
- Çerman AA, Solak SS, Altunay İ, Küçükünal NA. Topical calcipotriol therapy for mild-to-moderate alopecia areata: a retrospective study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14:616-620.
- Liu Y, Li J, Liang G, et al. Association of alopecia areata with vitamin D and calcium levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10:967-983.
- Lee S, Lee H, Lee CH, Lee W-S. Comorbidities in alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:466-477.e16.
- Lee S, Kim BJ, Lee CH, Lee WS. Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32:1214-1221.
- Tsai T-Y, Huang Y-C. Vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78:207-209.
- Rehman F, Dogra N, Wani MA. Serum vitamin D levels and alopecia areata- a hospital-based case-control study from North India. Int J Trichology. 2019;11:49-57.
- Siddappa H, Kumar YHK, Vivekananda N. Evaluation of association of vitamin D in alopecia areata: a case-control study of 100 patients in a tertiary rural hospital of Southern India. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10:45-49.
- Conic RZ, Miller R, Piliang M, et al. Comorbidities in patients with alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76:755-757.
- Titus-Lay E, Eid TJ, Kreys T-J, et al. Trichotillomania associated with a 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency: a case report. Ment Health Clin. 2020;10:38-43.
- Brankov N, Conic RZ, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska N, et al. Comorbid conditions in lichen planopilaris: a retrospective data analysis of 334 patients. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2018;4:180-184.
- Larkin SC, Cantwell HM, Imhof RL, et al. Lichen planopilaris in women: a retrospective review of 232 women seen at Mayo Clinic from 1992 to 2016. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020;95:1684-1695.
- Conic RRZ, Piliang M, Bergfeld W, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska N. Vitamin D Status in Scarring and Non-Scarring alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;85(2):478-480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.032
Female pattern hair loss treatment augmented by Vitamin D – Jan 2022
This study used oral Vitamin D. Topical Vitamin D would probably be better
Treatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14743
Ghada F R Hassan 1, Manar E T Sadoma 1, Manal M Elbatsh 1, Zainab A Ibrahim 1
Background: One of the most common dermatological complaints among females is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Serum vitamin D is a factor lately taken into consideration in approaching patients complaining of hair loss.Aim: To evaluate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with FPHL and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D therapy alone or combined with minoxidil in the treatment of this disease.
Methods: 45 patients with FPHL and 15 controls to measure serum levels of vitamin D were enrolled in the study. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and Group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation was done for the three groups before and after treatment.
Results: Vitamin D level was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. After treatment, as regards the Ludwig scale, there was a statistically significant improvement in group I than II, while no significant improvement was found in group III. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, while it was not significantly improved in group III.
Conclusion: Oral vitamin D combination with topical minoxidil is recommended to treat patients with FPHL; they had better results than vitamin D or topical minoxidil alone.
REFERENCES- Banihashemi M, Nahidi Y, Meibodi NT, Jarahi L, Dolatkhah M. Serum vitamin D3 level in patients with female pattern hair loss. Int J Trichol. 2016;8(3):116-120.
- Tandon S, Arora P, Gautam RK, Bhardwaj M, Garga U, Sharma N. Correlation between clinical features, biochemical parameters, and histopathological findings in women with patterned baldness: a study from North India. J Cutaneous Aesthetic Surg. 2019;12(1):42-48.
- Chan L, Cook DK. Female pattern hair loss. Aust J Gen Pract. 2018;47(7):459-464.
- Rasheed H, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, et al. Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss: do they play a role? Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(2):101-107.
- Bikle DD. Vitamin D and the skin: physiology and pathophysiology. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2012;13(1):3-19.
- Moneib H, Fathy G, Ouda A. Possible association of female-pattern hair loss with alteration in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Egypt J Dermatol Venerol. 2014;34(1):15-20.
- Nagar R, Dhudshia R. Utility of trichoscopy to diagnose early female pattern hair loss in a resource-poor setting: a cross-sectional study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2019;85(6):681.
- Rudnicka L. Dermoscopy in female androgenic alopecia: method standardization and diagnostic criteria. Int J Trichol. 2009;1:123-130.
- Badran FK, El Maksoud RE, Moawad MM. The efficacy of topical minoxidil 2% versus topical botanically derived inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase in treatment of female pattern hair loss by trichoscopy. J Egypt Women's Dermatol Soc. 2019;16(3):184.
- Hagag MM, El-Shafie M, Darwish RA. Vitamin D level in female pattern hair loss with normal androgen level. Menoufia Med J. 2019;32(1):221-225.
- Bolland MJ, Ames RW, Grey AB, et al. Does the degree of baldness influence vitamin D status? Med J Aust. 2008;189(11-12):674-675.
- Kim DH, Lee JW, Kim IS, et al. Successful treatment of alopecia areata with topical calcipotriol. Ann Dermatol. 2012;24(3):341-344.
- Wang J, Lu Z, Au JL. Protection against chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Pharm Res. 2006;23(11):2505-2514.
- Bakry OA, El Farargy SM, El Shafiee MK, Soliman A. Serum vitamin D in patients with alopecia areata. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(5):371-377.
- Mostafa WZ, Hegazy RA. Vitamin D and the skin: focus on a complex relationship: a review. J Adv Res. 2015;6(6):793-804.
- Wadhwa B, Relhan V, Goel K, Kochhar AM, Garg VK. Vitamin D and skin diseases: a review. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2015;81(4):344-355.
- Amor KT, Rashid RM, Mirmirani P. Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):3-10.
- Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al. Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the multidisciplinary androgen excess and PCOS Committee. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891.
- Palaskar NM, Chaudhari ND, Balpande GL, Khatu SS. A randomized trial of 5% minoxidil versus a combination of 5% minoxidil and oral spironolactone in the treatment of female pattern hair loss. Int J Res. 2019;5(4):668.
- Messenger AG, Rundgren J. Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth. Br J Dermatol. 2004;150(2):186-194.
- Van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Schoones J. Interventions for female pattern hair loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(5):1-216.
- Siah TW, Muir-Green L, Shapiro J. Female pattern hair loss: a retrospective study in a tertiary referral center. Int J Trichol. 2016;8(2):57-61.
- Hoedemaker C, Van Egmond S, Sinclair R. Treatment of female pattern hair loss with a combination of spironolactone and minoxidil. Aust J Dermatol. 2007;48(1):43-45.
- Gerkowicz A, Chyl-Surdacka K, Krasowska D, Chodorowska G. The role of vitamin D in non-scarring alopecia. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2653.
Great hair regrowth June 2012: Henry Lahore, admin of VitaminDWiki
By having a high level of vitamin D for over 2 years helped reduce many aches and pains, but did not stop or even slow my hair loss (age 66)
Even taking all of the bone/vitamin D cofactors did not stop hair loss (Magnesium, Silicon, Boron, etc)
However, 2 months ago, I decided to add scalp massage, which had really helped my father re-populate his scalp
(he was a carpenter who worked most of his life outdoors, probably getting plenty of vitamin D)
Nightly 3-minute scalp massage (to increase blood circulation) resulted in detectable hair re-growth in 2 weeks and excellent regrowth in 6 weeks.
I leave the scalp massager plugged in next to the bed so that it takes no time to set up for the nightly massage.
Update 2021 Using a muscle massage gun - far deeper and feels betterObservation: Vitamin D3 + cofactors + massage has worked extremely well for me.
Perhaps just massage would have helped, I do not know.
Conclusion for others: None: I have no idea if the combination will work for you.
There are a huge number of scalp massagers sold on Amazon - both mechanical and electric
I happened to purchase an electric massager made by Wahl for $22, which has a hair attachment (not shown)
Meta-analysis of Vitamin D and Hair Loss 0 Feb 2010
Clipped from above on chemotherapy-induced hair loss
"...Limited studies have been done in humans to elaborate the role of vitamin D in the hair cycle. A potential application for vitamin D is chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Topical calcitriol has been shown to protect against chemotherapy-induced alopecia caused by paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide. However, topical calcitriol failed to protect against chemotherapy-induced hair loss caused by a combination of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and a combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil 36, 37.”
The Hair Cycle and Vitamin D Receptor - 2011
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, doi:10.1016/j.abb.2011.10.002
Marie B. Demay, Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom St, Thier 11, Boston, MA 02114The Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a critical role in epidermal homeostasis. The ligand-dependent actions of the VDR attenuate epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and promote keratinocyte differentiation. Calcium can compensate for the absence of the VDR in maintaining a normal program of epidermal keratinocyte differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the effects of VDR ablation on the hair follicle cannot be prevented by maintaining normal calcium levels and are independent of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. These actions of the VDR are critical in the keratinocyte stem cell population that resides in the bulge region of the hair follicle. The absence of a functional VDR leads to a self-renewal and lineage progression defect in this population of stem cells, resulting in the absence of post-morphogenic hair cycles. The molecular partners and downstream target genes of the VDR in this unique population of cells have not yet been identified.
--Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss: do they play a role? - 2013
URL
Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(2):101-7. doi: 10.1159/000346698
Rasheed H1, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, El-Komy M, Abdel Hay R, Hamid MA, Hamdy E.
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.AIM: Evaluation of serum ferritin and vitamin D levels in females with chronic telogen effluvium (TE) or female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in order to validate their role in these common hair loss diseases.
METHODS: Eighty females (18 to 45 years old) with hair loss in the form of TE or FPHL and 40 age-matched females with no hair loss were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination as well as trichogram and dermoscopy. Serum ferritin and vitamin D2 levels were determined for each participant.
RESULTS: Serum ferritin levels in the TE (14.7 ± 22.1 μg/l) and FPHL (23.9 ± 38.5 μg/l) candidates were significantly lower than in controls (43.5 ± 20.4 μg/l). Serum vitamin D2 levels in females with
- TE (28.8 ± 10.5 nmol/l) and
- FPHL (29.1 ± 8.5 nmol/l) was significantly lower than in
- controls (118.2 ± 68.1 nmol/l; p < 0.001).
These levels decreased with increased disease severity.
Serum ferritin cut-off values for TE and FPHL were 27.5 and 29.4 μg/l, respectively, and those for vitamin D were 40.9 and 67.9 nmol/l.CONCLUSION: Low serum ferritin and vitamin D2 are associated with hair loss in females with TE and FPHL. Screening to establish these levels in cases of hair loss and supplementing with them when they are deficient may be beneficial in the treatment of disease.
Serum Vitamin D in Patients with alopecia areata Sept 2016
Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Sep-Oct;7(5):371-377
Bakry OA1, El Farargy SM1, El Shafiee MK2, Soliman A1.BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, recurrent, autoimmune hair disorder. It has been found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with many autoimmune diseases.
AIMS: The current study aimed to estimate serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with AA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 60 patients with AA and 60 age, gender, skin phototype, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects as a control group. Levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D were estimated using the ELISA technique.
RESULTS: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were significantly lower in AA cases when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). The least values were significantly associated with alopecia totalis/universalis compared with patchy AA (P < 0.001) and opiates (P = 0.04). Severe AA showed significantly the lowest vitamin D levels compared with cases with mild (P = 0.002) and moderate disease (P = 0.03). A significant inverse correlation was found between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and the age of the patients (r = -0.38; P = 0.03). There was no significant association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and gender, disease duration, disease recurrence, nail affection, duration of sun exposure/day, or positive family history of AA.
CONCLUSION: AA patients have lower levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D than healthy subjects. More studies are required to assess the value of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of that disease.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
Female pattern hair loss VitD: 13.5 ng vs controls(no FP hair loss): 17.2 ng -2016
Serum Vitamin D3 Level in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss.
Int J Trichology. 2016 Jul-Sep;8(3):116-20. doi 10.4103/0974-7753.188965.
Banihashemi M1, Nahidi Y1, Meibodi NT2, Jarahi L3, Dolatkhah M4. IRANBACKGROUND: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of alopecia in women, characterized by diffuse nonscarring hair loss in the frontal, central, and parietal areas of the scalp. The pathophysiology of FPHL is still not well known, and it is probably a multifactorial genetic trait. FPHL is also observed in women without increased androgen levels, which raises the likelihood of androgen-independent mechanisms and explains the lack of response to antiandrogen treatments in some patients. Vitamin D is a factor that has recently been considered in dealing with these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Vitamin D in patients with FPHL and compare them with healthy controls.
METHODS: In this case-control study, 45 women with FPHL were evaluated, as well as the same number of healthy women matched for age, hours spent under sunlight per day, and body mass index. Serum 25(OH) D3 level was measured using ELISA.
RESULTS: 60% of FPHL patients were in the 15-30 years old age group with a mean standard deviation (SD) age of 29.11 (7.30) years. In the majority of patients (66.7%), the severity of hair loss was Ludwig I. Mean (SD) serum Vitamin D3 level in the patient and control group was 13.45 (8.40) and 17.16 (8.96), respectively. T-test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of Vitamin D3 serum levels (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the correlation between the incidence of FPHL and decreased serum levels of Vitamin D3. It is recommended to evaluate serum Vitamin D3 levels as well as other hormone assays in these patients.
PMID: 27625563 DOI: 10.4103/0974-7753.188965
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
See also VitaminDWiki
- Chemotherapy hair loss – prevented or treated by Vitamin D, US patent application – Nov 2019
- Hair loss strongly associated with poor vitamin D receptors– Dec 2016
- Temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) is 15X more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – Oct 2019
- Temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) treated by Vitamin D (200,000 IU, twice a month) - March 2021
- Spot Baldness (Alopecia Areata) associated with low vitamin D – many studies
- Diffuse hair loss - 2009.pdf not just getting older
- Vitamin D2 patent granted to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy – 2002
- We suspect the vitamin D3 would work as well, if not better than D2
- A patent for a vitamin D treatment of a health problem is always a good indication that it probably works
- Redhead – Red hair - vitamin D
- Red hair apparently allows more production of vitamin D from the same amount of sunlight
- Vitamin D Shows Promise in Curing Baldness – July 2012
Google Scholar 18,000 hits for alopecia and "Vitamin D" as of March 2022
- Intralesional Vitamin D3 in Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A randomized‐controlled clinical trial - 2021
- Treatment of alopecia totalis/universalis/focalis with vitamin D and analogs: Three case reports and a literature review - Nov 2021 PDF 10.5409/wjcp.v10.i6.192
- Prevalence of Low Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients Presenting With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review - Dec 2021 FREE PDF
- Intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled clinical trial - Feb 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14844
- "Intralesional vitamin D3 is an effective treatment option for localized patchy (not more than 40% of scalp distribution) alopecia areata."
See also web
- Vitamin D and Hair Loss (Alopecia): New Research Confirms Link Jan 2012, discusses
mutated Vitamin D Receptors and hair loss in Mice - California Study
study in Texas
another mouse and VDR study from Mass General
California study with nude mice and VDR - Vitamin D deficiency causing more women to seek hair transplants in the Gulf May 2013
Women in the Middle East have such low levels of vitamin D that some are losing their hair.
Only 3% of the people going to hair clinics in Europe are women, but 20% are women in the Middle East
CLICK HERE for vitamin D deficiency in the Middle East - What Is the Connection Between Vitamin D and Hair Loss?
Research using hairless mice shows that vitamin D protects against hair loss caused by chemotherapy administered during cancer treatment, but the results have not been replicated in humans. - 7 Reasons Women Lose Their Hair — And 7 Fixes
1 reason is low vitamin D - only 1 sentence: Huffingpost July 2015 - Vitamin D deficiency in alopecia areata 2014
Vitamin D deficiency: 91% in those with AA, 33% in controls - Reduced level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in chronic/relapsing Alopecia Areata April 2013
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki - Vitamind3Blog - Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss? Feb 2011 with interesting comments
- Vitamind3Blog - Update Jan 2012 with some of the items below
- Vitamin D3 analogs stimulate hair growth in nude mice 2002 PDF on-line
- Sydney Morning Herald Feb 2010
The hormone in pill and vitamin D blamed for women's hair loss - Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling - Feb 2010 full text of the peer-reviewed publication is on-line
MEDLINE review (1955-July 2009) RESULTS: The vitamin D receptor, independent of vitamin D, plays an important role in hair cycling, specifically anagen initiation. The role of vitamin D in hair follicle cycling is not as well understood. - Exposed: Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Ladies... Aug 2011
- Vitamin D and Male Pattern Hair Loss: Is There a Link? Aug 2016
Article decides - probably there is a link - Vitamin D Level in Alopecia Areata July 2017
AA 17 ng, Not AA 41 ng. free PDF online - Absence of vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated PPARγ suppression causes alopecia in VDR-null mice March 2017
alopecia in mice lacking a Vitamin D Receptor - free PDF online - Her hair grew back after 6 months of 2,000 IU vitamin D 10-minute YouTube video April 2019
See also web - graying hair is related to several vitamin D deficient diseases
- This Is Why You Have Gray Hair Mercola, March 2016
Obesity, Thyroid disorders, anemia, and vitiligo
"People with premature graying but no other identifiable risk factor were 4.4 times as likely to have osteopenia" - What gray hair says about your health Jan 2020
- You may have a vitamin deficiency - Vitamin D, Vitamin B12
- Your immune system may cause sudden graying
- Gray is in your genes
- You are (or were) a smoker
Low-Level Laser Therapy helps hair growth - 2019 (note LLLT known to increase Vitamin D levels)
- Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for adult androgenic alopecia: a system review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Jan 2019 Deepdive
- Low-level laser therapy for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in Thai men and women: a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled trial - Dec 2018 Red LEDs in the cap 20 min per session, three times per week, over a 24-week period
I've got an LLLT, I will give it a try - Henry Lahore, Feb 2019
Continues to work well in 2022 - along with the vibrator- Note: one non-hair study found that LLLT increased Vitamin D Levels
- LLLT to scalp appears to increase clear thinking as well as hair growth
Note: LEDs have perhaps 100X less peak power than Laser Diodes
My son, against my warning, bought a $500 LED cap, which failed to increase his thinning hair
My beard growth, perhaps aided by Vitamin D and Zinc
Started growing my beard at age 70 (2016)
Facial hair and head hair are growing well
Vitamin D and cofactors - which include Zinc
Google Search for Beard and Vitamin D ==> 200,000 web pages
Google Search for Beard and Zinc ==> 400,000 web pages
Dr. Greger: Low Zinc, too much Mercury, or smoking causes hair loss
VitaminDWiki pages with HAIR in the title (13 as of Oct 2022)
excludes chair and red This list is automatically updated
Vitamin D helps minoxidil (rogaine) re-grow hair
Summary of NYT Aug 20221) Rogaine (as a pill) was originally made for heart problems
- - - Suspect that topical minoxidil + topical vitamin D would work well
2) Discovered it helped regrow hair
3) Rogaine was made as a topical for hair growth and was approved by the FDA
4) Topical Minoxidil was made a topical for hair regrowth (available on Amazon)
5) Some people find Topical Minoxidil unpleasant in their hair
6) Minoxidil pill is available by prescription for off-label use for hair regrowthTreatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14743 publisher rents PDF for $15
Ghada F R Hassan 1 , Manar E T Sadoma 1 , Manal M Elbatsh 1 , Zainab A Ibrahim 1Background: One of the most common dermatological complaints among females is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Serum vitamin D is a factor lately taken into consideration in approaching patients complaining of hair loss.
Aim: To evaluate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with FPHL and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D therapy alone or combined with minoxidil in the treatment of this disease.
Methods: 45 patients with FPHL and 15 controls to measure serum levels of vitamin D were enrolled in the study. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and Group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation was done for the three groups before and after treatment.
Results: Vitamin D level was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. After treatment, as regards the Ludwig scale, there was a statistically significant improvement in group I than II, while no significant improvement was found in group III. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, while it was not significantly improved in group III.
Conclusion: Oral vitamin D combination with topical minoxidil is recommended to treat patients with FPHL; they had better results than vitamin D or topical minoxidil alone.
Comment from Consumerlab Aug 2022
Minoxidil is a commonly used topical drug (sold over-the-counter as Rogaine) for preventing further hair loss or promoting hair regrowth, although not all people find that it works. Among those who do experience benefits, treatment must be continued indefinitely since stopping leads to a re-loss of hair within about 6 months.There is preliminary evidence that minoxidil may be beneficial for hair loss when taken orally in low doses, although reduced blood pressure and unwanted facial hair may occur. Several preliminary studies have shown benefits for female-pattern hair loss (at 0.25 to 2.5 mg per day) and male-pattern baldness (at 2.5 to 5 mg per day). When used for female-pattern hair loss, some experts consider the combination of 0.25 mg of minoxidil and 25 mg of spironolactone daily to be the best option due to a lower rate of occurrence of unwanted facial hair because spironolactone blocks sex hormones that can cause unwanted hair growth (Randolph, J Am Acad Dermatol 2021). For example, a study among 100 women (average age 48) with female-pattern hair loss found that taking this combination for 12 months provided a meaningful increase in hair volume and a decrease in hair shedding. However, oral minoxidil (which is approved as a blood pressure lowering drug) reduced average systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4.52 mmHg and 6.48 mmHg, respectively, and two patients developed postural hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing). In addition, four women reported excessive hair growth that required plucking or waxing (Sinclair, Int J Dermatol 2018).
People interested in taking minoxidil orally should be aware that this use is "off-label" (meaning it is an unapproved use of the prescription drug), and it is still unlikely to benefit people with severe hair loss, such as those who are already bald. (Note: Topical minoxidil formulations should never be taken orally as a substitute for oral minoxidil).
- Vitamin D can reduce the amount of chemo needed, so less hair is killed off
- Fewer chemo results in less reduction in Vitamin D
- Vitamin D can keep the hair healthy.
Google search "hair loss" chemotherapy "vitamin d" 3,60,000 hits Nov2019
Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review – 2021
J Cosmet Dermatol doi: 10.1111/jocd.14421
Kriteeka Saini 1, Venkataram Mysore 1Background: Vitamin D, a vitamin and hormone, plays an important role in dermatology and dermatotherapeutics, due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and regulation of keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. It also affects the hair cycle, and its role in hair loss is under constant research.
Objectives: This review aims to give a brief overview of vitamin D biology within the hair follicle, its role in etiopathogenesis, and the rationale for supplementation in various alopecias.
Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed to review relevant current literature and studies investigating the role of vitamin D in etiopathogenesis as a supplement and a potential therapeutic modality in hair loss.
Results and conclusion: Vitamin D is intricately involved in various signaling pathways of growth and differentiation of hair follicles. Most studies show an inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and non-scarring alopecias, such as telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and trichotillomania. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with scarring alopecia. However, conclusive studies to demonstrate the benefit of vitamin D administration in correcting hair loss and managing these conditions are lacking. Hence, further studies are needed before vitamin D can be routinely
References- Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3:118-126.
- Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:1911-1930.
- Amor KT, Rashid RM, Mirmirani P. Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):3.
- Gerkowicz A, Chyl-Surdacka K, Krasowska D, Chodorowska G. The role of vitamin D in non-scarring alopecia. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18:2653.
- Lin X, Meng X, Song Z. Vitamin D, and alopecia areata: possible roles in pathogenesis and potential implications for therapy. Am J Transl Res. 2019;11:5285-5300.
- Daroach M, Narang T, Saikia UN, et al. Correlation of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor expression in patients with alopecia areata: a clinical paradigm. Int J Dermatol. 2018;57:217-222.
- Sackett DL, Straus SE, et al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM, 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone Inc; 2000:173-177.
- Rasheed H, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, et al. Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss: do they play a role? Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26:101-107.
- Fawzi MMT, Mahmoud SB, Ahmed SF, Shaker OG. Assessment of vitamin D receptors in alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016;15:318-323.
- Tamer F, Yuksel ME, Karabag Y. Serum ferritin and vitamin D levels should be evaluated in patients with diffuse hair loss prior to treatment. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2020;37:407-411.
- Poonia K, Thami GP, Bhalla M, et al. NonScarring diffuse hair loss in women: a Clinico-Etiological Study from tertiary care center in North-West India. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019;18:401-407.
- Nayak K, Garg A, Mithra P, Manjrekar P. Serum vitamin D3 levels and diffuse hair fall among the student population in South India: a case-control study. Int J Trichology. 2016;8:160-164.
- Cheung EJ, Sink JR, English Iii JC. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies in patients with telogen effluvium: a retrospective cross-sectional study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15:1235-1237.
- Ruiz-Tagle S, Figueira M, Vial-Letelier V, et al. Micronutrients in hair loss. Our Dermatology Online. 2018;9:320-328.
- Sattar F, Almas U, Ibrahim NA, et al. Efficacy of oral vitamin D3 therapy in patients suffering from diffuse hair loss (Telogen Effluvium). J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2021;67:68-71.
- Mysore V, Parthasaradhi A, Kharkar R, et al. Expert consensus on the management of Telogen Effluvium in India. Int J Trichology. 2019;11:107-112.
- Banihashemi M, Nahidi Y, Meibodi NT, et al. Serum vitamin D3 level in patients with female pattern hair loss. Int J Trichology. 2016;8:116-120.
- Zhao J, Sheng Y, Dai C, et al. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, and male androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese population. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19:3115-3121.
- Sanke S, Samudrala S, Yadav A, et al. Study of serum vitamin D levels in men with premature androgenetic alopecia. Int J Dermatol. 2020;59:1113-1116.
- Narang T, Daroach M, Kumaran MS. Efficacy and safety of topical calcipotriol in management of alopecia areata: a pilot study. Dermatol Ther. 2017;30:e12464.
- Çerman AA, Solak SS, Altunay İ, Küçükünal NA. Topical calcipotriol therapy for mild-to-moderate alopecia areata: a retrospective study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14:616-620.
- Liu Y, Li J, Liang G, et al. Association of alopecia areata with vitamin D and calcium levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10:967-983.
- Lee S, Lee H, Lee CH, Lee W-S. Comorbidities in alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:466-477.e16.
- Lee S, Kim BJ, Lee CH, Lee WS. Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32:1214-1221.
- Tsai T-Y, Huang Y-C. Vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78:207-209.
- Rehman F, Dogra N, Wani MA. Serum vitamin D levels and alopecia areata- a hospital-based case-control study from North India. Int J Trichology. 2019;11:49-57.
- Siddappa H, Kumar YHK, Vivekananda N. Evaluation of association of vitamin D in alopecia areata: a case-control study of 100 patients in a tertiary rural hospital of Southern India. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10:45-49.
- Conic RZ, Miller R, Piliang M, et al. Comorbidities in patients with alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76:755-757.
- Titus-Lay E, Eid TJ, Kreys T-J, et al. Trichotillomania associated with a 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency: a case report. Ment Health Clin. 2020;10:38-43.
- Brankov N, Conic RZ, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska N, et al. Comorbid conditions in lichen planopilaris: a retrospective data analysis of 334 patients. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2018;4:180-184.
- Larkin SC, Cantwell HM, Imhof RL, et al. Lichen planopilaris in women: a retrospective review of 232 women seen at Mayo Clinic from 1992 to 2016. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020;95:1684-1695.
- Conic RRZ, Piliang M, Bergfeld W, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska N. Vitamin D Status in Scarring and Non-Scarring alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;85(2):478-480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.032
Female pattern hair loss treatment augmented by Vitamin D – Jan 2022
This study used oral Vitamin D. Topical Vitamin D would probably be better
Treatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14743
Ghada F R Hassan 1, Manar E T Sadoma 1, Manal M Elbatsh 1, Zainab A Ibrahim 1
Background: One of the most common dermatological complaints among females is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Serum vitamin D is a factor lately taken into consideration in approaching patients complaining of hair loss.Aim: To evaluate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with FPHL and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D therapy alone or combined with minoxidil in the treatment of this disease.
Methods: 45 patients with FPHL and 15 controls to measure serum levels of vitamin D were enrolled in the study. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and Group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation was done for the three groups before and after treatment.
Results: Vitamin D level was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. After treatment, as regards the Ludwig scale, there was a statistically significant improvement in group I than II, while no significant improvement was found in group III. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, while it was not significantly improved in group III.
Conclusion: Oral vitamin D combination with topical minoxidil is recommended to treat patients with FPHL; they had better results than vitamin D or topical minoxidil alone.
REFERENCES- Banihashemi M, Nahidi Y, Meibodi NT, Jarahi L, Dolatkhah M. Serum vitamin D3 level in patients with female pattern hair loss. Int J Trichol. 2016;8(3):116-120.
- Tandon S, Arora P, Gautam RK, Bhardwaj M, Garga U, Sharma N. Correlation between clinical features, biochemical parameters, and histopathological findings in women with patterned baldness: a study from North India. J Cutaneous Aesthetic Surg. 2019;12(1):42-48.
- Chan L, Cook DK. Female pattern hair loss. Aust J Gen Pract. 2018;47(7):459-464.
- Rasheed H, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, et al. Serum ferritin and vitamin D in female hair loss: do they play a role? Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(2):101-107.
- Bikle DD. Vitamin D and the skin: physiology and pathophysiology. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2012;13(1):3-19.
- Moneib H, Fathy G, Ouda A. Possible association of female-pattern hair loss with alteration in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Egypt J Dermatol Venerol. 2014;34(1):15-20.
- Nagar R, Dhudshia R. Utility of trichoscopy to diagnose early female pattern hair loss in a resource-poor setting: a cross-sectional study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2019;85(6):681.
- Rudnicka L. Dermoscopy in female androgenic alopecia: method standardization and diagnostic criteria. Int J Trichol. 2009;1:123-130.
- Badran FK, El Maksoud RE, Moawad MM. The efficacy of topical minoxidil 2% versus topical botanically derived inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase in treatment of female pattern hair loss by trichoscopy. J Egypt Women's Dermatol Soc. 2019;16(3):184.
- Hagag MM, El-Shafie M, Darwish RA. Vitamin D level in female pattern hair loss with normal androgen level. Menoufia Med J. 2019;32(1):221-225.
- Bolland MJ, Ames RW, Grey AB, et al. Does the degree of baldness influence vitamin D status? Med J Aust. 2008;189(11-12):674-675.
- Kim DH, Lee JW, Kim IS, et al. Successful treatment of alopecia areata with topical calcipotriol. Ann Dermatol. 2012;24(3):341-344.
- Wang J, Lu Z, Au JL. Protection against chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Pharm Res. 2006;23(11):2505-2514.
- Bakry OA, El Farargy SM, El Shafiee MK, Soliman A. Serum vitamin D in patients with alopecia areata. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(5):371-377.
- Mostafa WZ, Hegazy RA. Vitamin D and the skin: focus on a complex relationship: a review. J Adv Res. 2015;6(6):793-804.
- Wadhwa B, Relhan V, Goel K, Kochhar AM, Garg VK. Vitamin D and skin diseases: a review. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2015;81(4):344-355.
- Amor KT, Rashid RM, Mirmirani P. Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):3-10.
- Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al. Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the multidisciplinary androgen excess and PCOS Committee. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891.
- Palaskar NM, Chaudhari ND, Balpande GL, Khatu SS. A randomized trial of 5% minoxidil versus a combination of 5% minoxidil and oral spironolactone in the treatment of female pattern hair loss. Int J Res. 2019;5(4):668.
- Messenger AG, Rundgren J. Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth. Br J Dermatol. 2004;150(2):186-194.
- Van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Schoones J. Interventions for female pattern hair loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(5):1-216.
- Siah TW, Muir-Green L, Shapiro J. Female pattern hair loss: a retrospective study in a tertiary referral center. Int J Trichol. 2016;8(2):57-61.
- Hoedemaker C, Van Egmond S, Sinclair R. Treatment of female pattern hair loss with a combination of spironolactone and minoxidil. Aust J Dermatol. 2007;48(1):43-45.
- Gerkowicz A, Chyl-Surdacka K, Krasowska D, Chodorowska G. The role of vitamin D in non-scarring alopecia. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(12):2653.
Great hair regrowth June 2012: Henry Lahore, admin of VitaminDWiki
Having a high level of vitamin D for over 2 years helped reduce many aches and pains, but did not stop or even slow my hair loss (age 66)
Even taking all of the bone/vitamin D cofactors did not stop hair loss (Magnesium, Silicon, Boron, etc)
However, 2 months ago, I decided to add scalp massage, which had really helped my father re-populate his scalp
(he was a carpenter who worked most of his life outdoors, probably getting plenty of vitamin D)
Nightly 3-minute scalp massage (to increase blood circulation) resulted in detectable hair re-growth in 2 weeks and excellent regrowth in 6 weeks.
I leave the scalp massager plugged in next to the bed so that it takes no time to set up for the nightly massage.
Update 2021 Using a muscle massage gun - far deeper and feels betterObservation: Vitamin D3 + cofactors + massage has worked extremely well for me.
Perhaps just massage would have helped, I do not know.
Conclusion for others: None: I have no idea if the combination will work for you.
There are a huge number of scalp massagers sold on Amazon - both mechanical and electric
I happened to purchase an electric massager made by Wahl for $22, which has a hair attachment (not shown)
Feb 2010 Meta-analysis of Vitamin D and Hair Loss
Clipped from above on chemotherapy-induced hair loss
"...Limited studies have been done in humans to elaborate the role of vitamin D in the hair cycle. A potential application for vitamin D is chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Topical calcitriol has been shown to protect against chemotherapy-induced alopecia caused by paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide. However, topical calcitriol failed to protect against chemotherapy-induced hair loss caused by a combination of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and a combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil 36, 37.”
The Hair Cycle and Vitamin D Receptor - 2011
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, doi:10.1016/j.abb.2011.10.002
Marie B. Demay, Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom St, Thier 11, Boston, MA 02114The Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a critical role in epidermal homeostasis. The ligand-dependent actions of the VDR attenuate epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and promote keratinocyte differentiation. Calcium can compensate for the absence of the VDR in maintaining a normal program of epidermal keratinocyte differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the effects of VDR ablation on the hair follicle cannot be prevented by maintaining normal calcium levels and are independent of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. These actions of the VDR are critical in the keratinocyte stem cell population that resides in the bulge region of the hair follicle. The absence of a functional VDR leads to a self-renewal and lineage progression defect in this population of stem cells, resulting in the absence of post-morphogenic hair cycles. The molecular partners and downstream target genes of the VDR in this unique population of cells have not yet been identified.
--Serum ferritin and vitamin d in female hair loss: do they play a role? - 2013
Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(2):101-7. doi: 10.1159/000346698. Epub 2013 Feb 20.
Rasheed H1, Mahgoub D, Hegazy R, El-Komy M, Abdel Hay R, Hamid MA, Hamdy E.
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.AIM: Evaluation of serum ferritin and vitamin D levels in females with chronic telogen effluvium (TE) or female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in order to validate their role in these common hair loss diseases.
METHODS: Eighty females (18 to 45 years old) with hair loss in the form of TE or FPHL and 40 age-matched females with no hair loss were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination as well as bronchogram and dermoscopy. Serum ferritin and vitamin D2 levels were determined for each participant.
RESULTS: Serum ferritin levels in the TE (14.7 ± 22.1 μg/l) and FPHL (23.9 ± 38.5 μg/l) candidates were significantly lower than in controls (43.5 ± 20.4 μg/l). Serum vitamin D2 levels in females with
- TE (28.8 ± 10.5 nmol/l) and
- FPHL (29.1 ± 8.5 nmol/l) was significantly lower than in
- controls (118.2 ± 68.1 nmol/l; p < 0.001).
These levels decreased with increased disease severity.
Serum ferritin cut-off values for TE and FPHL were 27.5 and 29.4 μg/l, respectively, and those for vitamin D were 40.9 and 67.9 nmol/l.CONCLUSION: Low serum ferritin and vitamin D2 are associated with hair loss in females with TE and FPHL. Screening to establish these levels in cases of hair loss and supplementing with them when they are deficient may be beneficial in the treatment of disease.
Serum Vitamin D in Patients with alopecia areata Sept 2016
Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Sep-Oct;7(5):371-377
Bakry OA1, El Farargy SM1, El Shafiee MK2, Soliman A1.BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, recurrent, autoimmune hair disorder. It has been found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with many autoimmune diseases.
AIMS: The current study aimed to estimate serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with AA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 60 patients with AA and 60 age, gender, skin phototype, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects as a control group. Levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D were estimated using the ELISA technique.
RESULTS: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were significantly lower in AA cases when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). The least values were significantly associated with alopecia totalis/universalis compared with patchy AA (P < 0.001) and opiates (P = 0.04). Severe AA showed significantly the lowest vitamin D levels compared with cases with mild (P = 0.002) and moderate disease (P = 0.03). A significant inverse correlation was found between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and the age of the patients (r = -0.38; P = 0.03). There was no significant association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and gender, disease duration, disease recurrence, nail affection, duration of sun exposure/day, or positive family history of AA.
CONCLUSION: AA patients have lower levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D than healthy subjects. More studies are required to assess the value of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of that disease.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
Female pattern hair loss VitD: 13.5 ng vs controls(no FP hair loss): 17.2 ng -2016
Serum Vitamin D3 Level in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss.
Int J Trichology. 2016 Jul-Sep;8(3):116-20. doi 10.4103/0974-7753.188965.
Banihashemi M1, Nahidi Y1, Meibodi NT2, Jarahi L3, Dolatkhah M4. IRANBACKGROUND: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of alopecia in women, characterized by diffuse nonscarring hair loss in the frontal, central, and parietal areas of the scalp. The pathophysiology of FPHL is still not well known, and it is probably a multifactorial genetic trait. FPHL is also observed in women without increased androgen levels, which raises the likelihood of androgen-independent mechanisms and explains the lack of response to antiandrogen treatments in some patients. Vitamin D is a factor that has recently been considered in dealing with these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Vitamin D in patients with FPHL and compare them with healthy controls.
METHODS: In this case-control study, 45 women with FPHL were evaluated, as well as the same number of healthy women matched for age, hours spent under sunlight per day, and body mass index. Serum 25(OH) D3 level was measured using ELISA.
RESULTS: 60% of FPHL patients were in the 15-30 years old age group with a mean standard deviation (SD) age of 29.11 (7.30) years. In the majority of patients (66.7%), the severity of hair loss was Ludwig I. Mean (SD) serum Vitamin D3 level in the patient and control group was 13.45 (8.40) and 17.16 (8.96), respectively. T-test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of Vitamin D3 serum levels (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the correlation between the incidence of FPHL and decreased serum levels of Vitamin D3. It is recommended to evaluate serum Vitamin D3 levels as well as other hormone assays in these patients.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
See also VitaminDWiki
- Chemotherapy hair loss – prevented or treated by Vitamin D, US patent application – Nov 2019
- Hair loss strongly associated with poor vitamin D receptors– Dec 2016
- Temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) is 15X more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – Oct 2019
- Temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) treated by Vitamin D (200,000 IU, twice a month) - March 2021
- Spot Baldness (Alopecia Areata) associated with low vitamin D – many studies
- Diffuse hair loss - 2009.pdf not just getting older
- Vitamin D2 patent granted to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy – 2002
- We suspect the vitamin D3 would work as well, if not better than D2
- A patent for a vitamin D treatment of a health problem is always a good indication that it probably works
- Redhead – Red hair - vitamin D
- Red hair apparently allows more production of vitamin D from the same amount of sunlight
- Vitamin D Shows Promise in Curing Baldness – July 2012
Google Scholar 18,000 hits for alopecia and "Vitamin D" as of March 2022
- Intralesional Vitamin D3 in Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A randomized‐controlled clinical trial - 2021
- Treatment of alopecia totalis/universalis/focalis with vitamin D and analogs: Three case reports and a literature review - Nov 2021 PDF 10.5409/wjcp.v10.i6.192
- Prevalence of Low Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients Presenting With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review - Dec 2021 FREE PDF
- Intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled clinical trial - Feb 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14844
- "Intralesional vitamin D3 is an effective treatment option for localized patchy (not more than 40% of scalp distribution) alopecia areata."
See also web
- Vitamin D and Hair Loss (Alopecia): New Research Confirms Link Jan 2012, discusses
mutated Vitamin D Receptors and hair loss in Mice - California Study
study in Texas
another mouse and VDR study from Mass General
California study with nude mice and VDR - Vitamin D deficiency causing more women to seek hair transplants in the Gulf May 2013
Women in the Middle East have such low levels of vitamin D that some are losing their hair.
Only 3% of the people going to hair clinics in Europe are women, but 20% are women in the Middle East
CLICK HERE for vitamin D deficiency in the Middle East - What Is the Connection Between Vitamin D and Hair Loss?
Research using hairless mice shows that vitamin D protects against hair loss caused by chemotherapy administered during cancer treatment, but the results have not been replicated in humans. - 7 Reasons Women Lose Their Hair — And 7 Fixes
1 reason is low vitamin D - only 1 sentence: Huffingpost July 2015 - Vitamin D deficiency in alopecia areata 2014
Vitamin D deficiency: 91% in those with AA, 33% in controls - Reduced level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in chronic/relapsing Alopecia Areata April 2013
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki - Vitamind3Blog - Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss? Feb 2011 with interesting comments
- Vitamind3Blog - Update Jan 2012 with some of the items below
- Vitamin D3 analogs stimulate hair growth in nude mice 2002 PDF on-line
- Sydney Morning Herald Feb 2010
The hormone in pill and vitamin D blamed for women's hair loss - Does D matter? The role of vitamin D in hair disorders and hair follicle cycling - Feb 2010 full text of the peer-reviewed publication is on-line
MEDLINE review (1955-July 2009) RESULTS: The vitamin D receptor, independent of vitamin D, plays an important role in hair cycling, specifically anagen initiation. The role of vitamin D in hair follicle cycling is not as well understood. - Exposed: Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Ladies... Aug 2011
- Vitamin D and Male Pattern Hair Loss: Is There a Link? Aug 2016
Article decides - probably there is a link - Vitamin D Level in Alopecia Areata July 2017
AA 17 ng, Not AA 41 ng. free PDF online - Absence of vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated PPARγ suppression causes alopecia in VDR-null mice March 2017
alopecia in mice lacking a Vitamin D Receptor - free PDF online - Her hair grew back after 6 months of 2,000 IU vitamin D 10-minute YouTube video April 2019
See also web - graying hair is related to several vitamin D deficient diseases
- This Is Why You Have Gray Hair Mercola, March 2016
Obesity, Thyroid disorders, anemia, and vitiligo
"People with premature graying but no other identifiable risk factor were 4.4 times as likely to have osteopenia" - What gray hair says about your health Jan 2020
- You may have a vitamin deficiency - Vitamin D, Vitamin B12
- Your immune system may cause sudden graying
- Gray is in your genes
- You are (or were) a smoker
Low-Level Laser Therapy helps hair growth
Low-level laser therapy for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in Thai men and women: a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled trial - Dec 2018
I've got an LLLT, I will give it a try - Henry Lahore, Feb 2019- Note: one non-hair study found that LLLT increased Vitamin D Levels
- ((Low Level Laser Therapy greatly increased Vitamin D and Magnesium (for diabetics with nephropathy) – March 2019
- LLLT to scalp appears to increase clear thinking as well as hair growth
- continuing LLLT several nights a week as of June 2022
My beard growth, perhaps aided by Vitamin D and Zinc
Started growing my beard at age 70 (2016)
Facial hair and head hair are growing well
Vitamin D and cofactors - which include Zinc
Google Search for Beard and Vitamin D ==> 200,000 web pages
Google Search for Beard and Zinc ==> 400,000 web pages
Dr. Greger: Low Zinc, too much Mercury, or smoking causes hair loss
VitaminDWiki pages with HAIR in the title (10 as of Jan 2022)
excludes chair and red This list is automatically updated
Vitamin D helps minoxidil (rogaine) re-grow hair
Summary of NYT Aug 2022 1) Rogaine (as a pill) was originally made for heart problems 2) Discovered it helped regrow hair 3) Rogaine was made as a topical for hair growth and was approved by the FDA 4) Topical Minoxidil was made a topical for hair regrowth (available on Amazon) 5) Some people find Topical Minoxidil unpleasant in their hair 6) Minoxidil pill is available by prescription for off-label use for hair regrowth - - - Suspect that topical minoxidil + topical vitamin D would work well
Treatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14743 publisher rents PDF for $15
Ghada F R Hassan 1 , Manar E T Sadoma 1 , Manal M Elbatsh 1 , Zainab A Ibrahim 1Background: One of the most common dermatological complaints among females is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Serum vitamin D is a factor lately taken into consideration in approaching patients complaining of hair loss.
Aim: To evaluate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with FPHL and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D therapy alone or combined with minoxidil in the treatment of this disease.
Methods: 45 patients with FPHL and 15 controls to measure serum levels of vitamin D were enrolled in the study. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and Group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation was done for the three groups before and after treatment.
Results: Vitamin D level was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. After treatment, as regards the Ludwig scale, there was a statistically significant improvement in group I than II, while no significant improvement was found in group III. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, while it was not significantly improved in group III.
Conclusion: Oral vitamin D combination with topical minoxidil is recommended to treat patients with FPHL; they had better results than vitamin D or topical minoxidil alone.
Comment from Consumerlab Aug 2022
Minoxidil is a commonly used topical drug (sold over-the-counter as Rogaine) for preventing further hair loss or promoting hair regrowth, although not all people find that it works. Among those who do experience benefits, treatment must be continued indefinitely since stopping leads to a re-loss of hair within about 6 months.There is preliminary evidence that minoxidil may be beneficial for hair loss when taken orally in low doses, although reduced blood pressure and unwanted facial hair may occur. Several preliminary studies have shown benefits for female-pattern hair loss (at 0.25 to 2.5 mg per day) and male-pattern baldness (at 2.5 to 5 mg per day). When used for female-pattern hair loss, some experts consider the combination of 0.25 mg of minoxidil and 25 mg of spironolactone daily to be the best option due to a lower rate of occurrence of unwanted facial hair because spironolactone blocks sex hormones that can cause unwanted hair growth (Randolph, J Am Acad Dermatol 2021). For example, a study among 100 women (average age 48) with female-pattern hair loss found that taking this combination for 12 months provided a meaningful increase in hair volume and decrease in hair shedding. However, oral minoxidil (which is approved as a blood pressure lowering drug) reduced average systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4.52 mmHg and 6.48 mmHg, respectively, and two patients developed postural hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing). In addition, four women reported excessive hair growth that required plucking or waxing (Sinclair, Int J Dermatol 2018).
People interested in taking minoxidil orally should be aware that this use is "off-label" (meaning it is an unapproved use of the prescription drug), and it is still unlikely to benefit people with severe hair loss, such as those who are already bald. (Note: Topical minoxidil formulations should never be taken orally as a substitute for oral minoxidil).
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