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Antioxidants for Hair Loss

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. There are a number of types of alopecia, which are attributed to a variety of causes. The Mayo Clinic identifies poor nutrition as one of the causes of hair loss. Antioxidants benefit hair growth by strengthening the immune system and providing essential nutrition.

  1. Hair Loss

    • A certain amount of hair loss is normal for everybody. According to kidshealth.org, people shed between fifty to a hundred hairs a day. However, damage to the hair follicle or to the hair's growth cycle can lead to more strands being lost than replenished, resulting in temporary or permanent alopecia. Androgenic alopecia (age related baldness in men) is the most common form of hair loss.

    Antioxidants

    • Antioxidants protect our bodies against cell-damaging free radicals that lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Vitamins A, C and E are potent antioxidants, as well as selenium, beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. According to BBC Health website, phytonutrients (the plant compounds that produce the color in fruits and vegetables), also behave like antioxidants in the body.

    Antioxidants and Hair Loss

    • Nutritional deficiencies have been linked to some hair loss conditions. The Mayo Clinic, for example, lists poor nutrition as a cause of telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss triggered by a change to the hair's normal cycle. Antioxidants promote hair growth. Vitamin C, for example, facilitates the absorption of iron, as well as maintaining healthy hair and skin. Vitamin A regulates the production of sebum in the scalp and vitamin E stimulates scalp circulation.

    Sources

    • Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants. Dark green vegetables, citrus fruits, kiwis and tomatoes contain vitamin C, while vitamin A can be found in spinach and carrots. Liver and fish also contain vitamin A. Sources of vitamin E include nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables. Superfoods, such as blueberries and broccoli are foods that contain high concentrations of antioxidants.

    Supplements/Intake

    • According to the British National Health Service (NHS), a balanced diet from all the food groups should provide the vitamins and minerals the body needs. It recommends supplements only as a "top-up" and not as a substitute for healthy living. The recommended daily allowance from the National Agricultural Statistics Service for vitamins A, C and E is 5000IU, 60mg and 10mg respectively.

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