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Vitamin D3 Hair Growth

Vitamins are micronutrients that play important roles within the body from cell growth, immune response or muscle growth. The roles are endless. vitamin D is vital for the absorption of calcium, bone growth and the mineralization of bone. However, research from clinical animal trials may suggest that vitamin D3 and its analogs may help growth hair.

  1. Identification

    • Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, which means it is not water soluble and stored in the fat. This can cause a build up and lead to toxicity. It is found in very few foods and is added to others, like milk. Vitamin D is available in supplement form. The body can undergo vitamin D synthesis when ultraviolet rays touch the skin. Other roles of vitamin D include immune and neuromuscular function, and providing an anti-inflammatory response.

    Sources

    • Food sources of vitamin D include egg yoke, beef liver, and milk or orange juice fortified with vitamin D. The highest sources of vitamin D are found in oily fish like salmon, cod and mackerel. One tablespoon of cod liver oil contains 1,360 international units (IUs) of vitamin D. The recommended daily allotment (RDA) of vitamin D is 400IUs daily.

    Expert Insight

    • An animal study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, was conducted with nude mice that were given vitamin D3 to determine whether or not it could stimulate hair growth, these mice could not grow hair normally. The dose was not given, but it stated it was a high dose that did not reach toxicity. The vitamin D3 supplementation dramatically stimulated hair growth in the new mice. The growth was in a cyclical pattern and stimulated the growth of normal hair follicles. Remember this is an animal study; however, it shows the hair growth was directly linked to high doses of vitamin D in mice that could not grow hair under normal circumstances.

    Toxicity

    • Vitamin D toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss and constipation. It can also raise blood levels of calcium that can cause mental status changes such as confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities. The Office of Dietary Supplements say that the use of calcium (1g/day) and vitamin D (400IUs/day) can increase the risk of kidney stones in postmenopausal women by 17 percent.

    Warning

    • Please consult your health care provider prior to any supplement program. Results not typical. Vitamin D has a toxicity level and can cause serious consequences. The study provided included nude mice, and there is a lack of human trial research showing the effectiveness of vitamin D to stimulate hair growth.

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