Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? Our Expert Insights

Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss? Our Expert Insights

Author

Hairy Hair

Verified by

Matthew Payne

Published on

April 28, 2025

Est. Reading Time

12 mins

There are many reasons for hair loss. They include pattern loss of hair, stress, and over-styling of hair. Lack of vitamins is also a cause of hair loss. You may perhaps be inquiring about the kind of vitamin deficiency that will result in baldness. There are many nutrients by which you might be deficient that result in this and are essential for maintaining healthy hair.

If you are not getting enough nutrients, you can have medical side effects that include hair loss. That can be particularly annoying if you are already bound to lose your hair because of genes or age.

What we’re going to do here is discuss some of the most common vitamin deficiencies and how you can fix them. We’re also going to show you how Hairy Hair might be able to help you beat your hair loss on your own terms.

 

Hair Regrowth Quiz

 

Can a zinc deficiency lead to hair loss?

Zinc keeps your immune system in good shape. It also aids in wound healing and your sense of smell and taste. A lack of zinc can lead to telogen effluvium. This is a form of hair loss brought about by severe trauma, sickness, and severe stress.

Since your body puts you in a stressful state, it can cause you to experience sudden hair loss on your head. When the normal hair growth cycle is interrupted, more hair falls out than is growing. That is called telogen effluvium. You will usually notice it because more hair appears to come from your pillow or clogs your shower drain.

Some people are more susceptible to zinc deficiency. Some of them are:

  • Vegetarians
  • People with inflammatory bowel disease
  • Pregnant women
  • Alcoholics
  • Patients who have had a gastric bypass
  • People with liver disease
  • People with kidney disease

Vegetarians have fewer zinc-rich food options compared to meat eaters. Inflammatory bowel disease could also render the body unable to absorb food to obtain essential nutrients. 

Though research results affirm that supplementing with zinc promotes low levels, you need to first see a doctor. That way, you will be kept safe and at the same time make sure they don’t conflict with other medications that you might be taking.

Is hair loss caused by a biotin deficiency?

Biotin is needed to promote healthy hair growth and for well-nourished skin and is one of the best vitamins for hair. Biotin or vitamin B7 is also a keratin-synthesising enzyme that is a protein which constitutes the nucleus in hair and nails.

A deficiency in biotin can lead to alopecia, i.e., thinning and loss of hair on the scalp and other areas of the body, depending on whether it is androgenetic or non-androgenetic alopecia. Biotin deficiencies are rare since gut bacteria naturally produce a sufficient amount of biotin for optimal functioning. An addition of biotin to your diet, however, will make hair shafts stronger, and hair will no longer break.

Can iron deficiency lead to hair loss?

Iron deficiency can lead to a variety of things. One of the conditions is anemia, which is when the body cannot produce sufficient red blood cells. It is the most common deficiency of nutrients globally, as reported by the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene and can lead to health issues.

It may be hard to determine if iron deficiency is the cause of your balding. It may look like pattern balding. Some people are more at risk of getting an iron deficiency. These are vegans and vegetarians. Women with excessively heavy periods and women who have celiac disease are also more at risk of getting an iron deficiency.

Vegetarians and vegans don’t get heme iron from meat and fish. But they can make use of non-heme iron from plants. Women with heavy or prolonged menstruation are more prone to iron deficiency. This is because blood loss decreases iron content in the body.

Nutrients can not be absorbed through food if you have celiac disease. A blood test can be used to measure your iron levels if you are worried you have a lack of nutrients. You can be at risk for getting iron deficiency anemia if your iron level remains low for a prolonged time.

You might need to supplement if you cannot increase your iron level through diet only. You will need to consult a health professional before you start a supplement. Too many iron supplements indeed cause stomach cramps and nausea. It may even lead to organ damage.

In case your iron deficiency is acute, a healthcare professional may recommend a stronger supplement. This will work better than a regular multivitamin.

Does hair loss correlate with vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D is a supplement that will do its part to make the bones stronger, muscles work better, and the immune system healthier. It will function best if we obtain it through sunlight, but depending on your location, you may not receive enough daily doses for healthy levels.

There are some foods that will contribute to a higher level of vitamin D in your system, such as oily fish and some mushrooms. Vitamin D deficiency will have some effect on hair loss, but there is a lot more that needs to be investigated in terms of how they are related.

Others will tend to be low like individuals who do not venture out much, expose as much of their body as possible to sunlight or who have dark skin. Melanated skin requires longer to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D tablets are usually prescribed every day when it is darker, like autumn and winter, at a low dose of 10 micrograms.

 

Shop Hair Growth Products

 

How can Hairy Hair assist with my hair loss?

If your baldness is caused by a hereditary condition or other treatable form of hair loss, then Hairy Hair provides one tablet a day that can fight your thinning and restore your self-esteem.

This combination of ingredients goes to work to possibly stimulate new hair growth and treat many different causes of baldness to give your hair the possible regrowth power.

Your scalp can now absorb more oxygen and nutrients through the pill’s vasodilator action, in addition to stopping the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone that causes the tightening of the hair follicles and leads to hair loss.

It is recommended to start considering curing baldness from the initial stages. Our specialists are able to organise individualised planning for treatment such that a medicine that suits you can be tailored without making extensive changes to your lifestyle.

The role vitamins play in hair health

Low levels of nutrients will cause hair loss if you lack a balanced diet. Some of them are iron, zinc, vitamin D, and biotin, which are crucial for maintaining healthy hair follicles. A supplement will raise low levels of these nutrients, or you can do so just by eating a balanced diet. Hair growth can be regained in time after a deficiency is treated if this is the reason for your hair loss.

While vitamin deficiencies can be difficult to detect, a blood test can usually reveal if there are any issues in your nutrient levels. For some, though, a vitamin deficiency will only work to worsen hair loss that stems from genetics or aging. If you’re struggling with your hair loss and want a convenient and discreet treatment option, contact Hairy Hair today.

After filling out a quick online questionnaire, we will look over your information and set up a personalised treatment plan based on your hair loss. You will be telephoned by an Australian qualified GP to confirm any queries and explain your plan to you.

Then just sit back and relax, and let your prescription be dispatched directly to your home. Without visiting a clinic, you can have your hair loss treatment sorted out in the comfort of your own home.

 

Shop Hair Growth Products

Own a hair care business? Join the HairyHair Directory today!

List Your Business