How Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Hair Loss

A well balanced diet is indispensable for healthy and beautiful hair. Among the essential nutrients is Vitamin B12. It is also called cobalamin.

How does this vitamin B12 help in maintaining healthy hair?

According to doctors, Vitamin B12 promotes the production of oxygenated red blood cells and their transfer to follicles. When oxygen-rich blood reaches follicles, the latter get full nutrition and oxygen to function optimally.

So, now you can imagine what happens when follicles do not get enough oxygen-rich blood. And this would happen when the body is deficient in Vitamin B12.

So you see, hair health is related to Vitamin B12.

When follicles are healthy, they produce hair amazingly. Quality of hair is good and the rate of hair growth is also commendable. Healthy follicles, as per study, can produce about six inches of hair every year.

But, these tiny “hair factories” over your head need constant nutrition for optimal production.

Understanding more about Vitamin B12 and hair loss connection

Hair is made of keratin, which is a type of protein. This is a dead substance, say hair experts. That’s the reason we do not feel pain when cutting hair.

However, roots of hair, i.e., follicles are alive.

Follicles are situated just beneath the skin surface. The bulb at the bottom of follicles contains one of the fastest growing cells found in the human body. The cells divide every 23-72 hours!

The base of the bulb features papilla. This harbors blood vessels. The major function of papilla is to connect follicles to the blood supply of the body so that follicles stay nourished. When the body has enough Vitamin B12, the entire structure of follicles stay healthy and follicles are able to produce hair in a normal manner.

Sources of Vitamin B12

Human body is incapable of producing Vitamin B12. We need to supply this vitamin from an external source. This vitamin is found abundantly in animal-based foods like eggs, dairy, meat, fish, and poultry.

According to doctors, vitamins are not found in plant-based diet. So, vegans and vegetarians who do not eat eggs should consult a doctor about taking Vitamin B 12 supplements or adding Vitamin B12 fortified foods in their diet.

How to deal with hair loss due to Vitamin B 12 deficiency?

It’s as simple as that – you correct the deficiency and the hair loss stops. If the hair loss is only due to Vitamin B 12 deficiency, then correction of this deficiency will stop hair loss, according to hair experts. However, if your hair loss is due to a combined result of more than one factor, then you must also consider the other factor causing hair loss.

Crux:

It is important to check your diet, if you wish to flaunt beautiful hair. Even the best hair care products fail to give their maximum results when your diet is deficient in nutrients required for optimal hair growth.

Many people think that because hair is made of protein, they only need to take care of protein in their diet. That’s not true. Follicles need an array of nutrients from vitamins to minerals to function well. A balanced diet is the key to healthy hair.