Iron deficiency and hair loss
January 10, 2009
Menopause causes women to lose hair. However, hair loss is common even in pre-menopausal women. One of the main reasons for this is a nutritional deficiency.
Iron deficiency is one of the most important factors that cause hair loss.
Iron deficiency
If your ferritin level drops below 40 ng/ml or if iron percent saturation is under 20%, you are said to have iron deficiency.
What is the significance of iron?
Iron is the most abundant mineral in our blood. It has important functions too. It helps in production of haemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen within blood cells. It is also responsible for the production of myoglobin. Myoglobin is nothing but a form of haemoglobin, which is found in muscles.
Iron is required for the oxygenation of the red blood cells. Iron plays a significant role in several body functions. It is vital for normal growth and maintenance of hair. We do not require hair cells in order to survive. As a result, they are not prioritised above other cells. Hence, when energy required by the body is not sufficiently provided for by food intake, then other non-essential stores are used up. Therefore, the hair cells end up losing iron. Hair follicles contain ferritin and hence these sources are used up for the more essential cells like bone marrow. As a result, the hair growth is affected adversely.
What causes iron deficiency?
When a proper balance of iron is not maintained, that is, if the amount used is not replaced by the amount obtained through the diet, iron deficiency will occur.
If the body is not able to absorb iron adequately, then a negative iron imbalance will occur.
Just because you are not anaemic, does not mean that you cannot be iron deficient. There are several reasons why iron absorbed may not be enough.
Everyday only 10% of the ingested iron is absorbed in the blood and this too depends on the type of food that you eat. Some foods like tea and coffee contain tannins, whereas bran and egg albumin also inhibit iron absorption.
Some foods like vitamin C, alcohol and flesh foods encourage iron absorption. You can lose iron even through intestinal bleeding, excessive menstrual bleeding, poor digestion, long-term illness, ulcers and heavy use of anti-acids.
How to control iron deficiency?
One way to control iron deficiency is to eat foods rich in iron along with foods that encourage iron absorption. Red meats, green leafies, shellfish, egg yolk and orange juice make a great combination. You can avoid tea for at least an hour after eating in order not to interfere with iron absorption.
Your liver can be stimulated to synthesise ferritin, the protein that stores iron, in order to maintain the correct balance.
Treatment
Hair loss by iron deficiency is easily treatable. Serum ferritin concentrations of 40 ng/ml or greater are needed for maintaining good hair and for hair re-growth, 70 ng/ml of ferritin is essential.
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