Too much vitamin d and hair loss

Q. I have always had abundant hair, even after menopause. The last few years, though, I have been shedding hair excessively, more on one side than the other. I have to tease the thin side to match the rest.

I’ve tried specialty shampoos and scalp treatments. My stylist says my scalp is healthy.

I had radiation for breast cancer more than five years ago and that did not affect my hair. I am in excellent health.

An article I saw about vitamin D toxicity has me wondering. It said one symptom that can occur when taking 5,000 IU daily is hair loss. That jumped out at me, since I have been taking this dose for several years.

I stopped taking all vitamin D three weeks ago. Do you know if this is really a cause of hair loss? How long would I have to be off vitamin D to detoxify my body? I plan to resume taking it, but at a lower dose.

A. Your story intrigued us, and we searched the medical literature for an answer to your questions. Vitamin D and its receptor are intimately involved in hair growth. A deficiency in this nutrient can lead to hair loss (Dermatology Online Journal, Feb. 15, 2010). We could, however, find no research on the effects of excess vitamin D on hair loss.

We did find that COVID-19 infections can lead to “telogen effluvium,” in which hair falls out in clumps (Irish Journal of Medical Science, Aug. 31, 2021). If you had a COVID-19 infection before your symptoms began, that might explain the situation.

Because vitamin D is fat soluble, it might take quite a while to “detoxify.” Your health care provider could order a test of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to check your blood levels. That would guide you regarding supplementation.

Q. After reading an article you wrote about cinnamon, I started adding one half teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon to the dry coffee grounds in my four-cup brew pot daily. That’s my daily ration of half-caf coffee.

Before that, my A1C had risen to nearly 6. Consequently, I was prediabetic, but I do not want to take metformin. I will have my A1C checked again in several months and hopefully it will be lower.

Thank you for offering alternatives to medications. They often come with too many side effects for my comfort.

A. Controlling blood glucose is crucial for good health. There’s good reason to expect your daily dose of cinnamon will help you do that (Clinical Nutrition, April 2019).

This effect was first reported from a clinical trial conducted almost 20 years ago (Diabetes Care, December 2003). Ceylon cinnamon is a wise choice, since it does not affect the liver as cassia cinnamon, the most common spice, can (BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dec. 28, 2017).

You can learn more about cinnamon and other natural approaches for blood sugar control in our book “Recipes & Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy.” It is available in the books section of our store at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Keep monitoring your blood glucose and HbA1C.

Q. Growing up, I remember my grandmother always giving us a bottle of rubbing alcohol to smell when we had nausea. I’d like to know the reason why, because it worked every single time.

A. We’d like to know the reason, too. All we have are a few studies demonstrating that it does work (American Journal of Emergency Medicine, March 2021; Annals of Emergency Medicine, August 2018; Annals of Emergency Medicine, July 2016).

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

At the top of the list of essential vitamins for hair growth is biotin, also known as Vitamin B7. Whenever you see vitamins for hair growth, biotin is at the top of the list. It’s also important for healthy nail growth. A vitamin deficiency involving biotin causes hair loss, brittle nails, and nerve damage.

Which Vitamins Help in Hair Growth?

In addition to biotin, the other B vitamins are important for healthy hair growth, including Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid. In fact, Vitamin B12 helps hair cells and hair growth by promoting healthy hair follicles through the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells.

The B vitamins aren’t the only nutrients important for good hair health. To avoid any vitamin deficiency hair loss, your diet should include nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron, magnesium, and zinc.

Vitamin D deficiency hair loss is also a problem. Vitamin D nourishes the hair follicles. Vitamin D deficiency is also common in people who suffer from alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition.

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 won’t 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.

Can Supplements Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, overdoing vitamins and nutritional supplements can cause hair loss. In addition to excessive selenium, taking too much Vitamin A can also cause hair loss. Overall, it’s best not to exceed the upper recommendation limit for vitamins because too much can cause a variety of health problems.

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If you are experiencing hair loss, call RHRLI for a free consultation. My many years of experience as a hair restoration surgeon and my state-of-the-art facility using the ARTAS® robot means that you will have an outstanding experience. Contact us at RHRLI for an appointment by filling out our contact form.

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