Alli & Hair Loss

Alli is the brand name for the weight loss drug orlistat. Capsules are sold over the counter without prescription. Alli is meant to help overweight people lose more pounds than dieting and exercise alone, and it is associated with side effects, but hair loss is not a direct result of use.

Significance

• Alli blocks 25 percent of the fat consumed from being absorbed, so instead it goes through your bowels. Alli is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved weight loss drug in a market saturated with diet pill options that aren't held to as high a standard as other drugs and medications.

Side Effects

• Many of the most common negative side effects of alli are gastrointestinal-related, such as gas, abdominal pain and oily stools, according to mayoclinic.com. Hair loss is listed as a side effect with an incidence not known.

Diabetes

• Diabetes can lead to hair thinning or loss because it is a hormone-related illness, says diabetesandhairloss.com. Alli may help with diabetes in some patients, according to Mayo Clinic.

Vitamin Deficiency

• The official alli website (see the link in Resources) recommends you take a multivitamin containing A, D, E, K and beta carotene. These vitamins are often found in hair supplements to promote growth. According to Mayo Clinic, a multivitamin is necessary because orlistat may decrease the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients from food.

Benefits

• Healthy weight loss may decrease the risk of chronic disease such as diabetes and cancer, which can lead to hair loss and thinning. Also, because alli requires a healthy, vitamin-rich diet for efficacy, the body's vitamin uptake might help improve hair's overall condition.