Can low ferritin levels and Vit D cause hair loss?

– by Dr Lawrence Shapiro is a hair restoration physician with 27 years of treating hair loss and hair problems in both men and women.

Ferritin and Vitamin D: Culprits Behind Hair Loss?

Vitamin D from sunlight

Typcially many women in their late 40's and 50's have diffuse thinning and shedding without apparent reason. When assessing a patient for hair loss we have to look at many factors including metabolic and endocrine. Especially when starting the patient on any supplements or LLT or oral prescription medicine. Proper review of blood work is important when evaluating a patient for hair loss. This is the reason that we suggest our patients consult with one of the Help Hair Clinics that have been trained using the Low Anabolic Profile and our protocols. 

A study was done evaluating Chronic Telogen Effluvium(TE) and Female Pattern Hair Loss in 80 females with hair loss and 40 without hair loss and their blood work was compared.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23428658

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) were significantly lower than in controls (118.2 ± 68.1 nmol/l; p < 0.001). These levels decreased with increased disease severity. 

What does the results mean? It means  that when getting an evaluation for hair loss, we suggest that your physician get bloodwork that includes these lab tests. If these tests are lower than normal then restoring them to their normal levels or to find the root cause will help with the overall treatment plan. And even if these levels are restored to normal we suggest regular monitoring of the blood work since fluctuations can occur.

When the lab work is back to normal range than supplementation with Help Hair Shake and Help Hair Vitamins should be implemented because it will start the hair back in the growth phase by supplying the hair follicles with all the proper nutritional support.