Hair loss can be due to a number of reasons. Nutritional deficiencies is a common cause. If you are losing abnormal numbers of hair strands, consult your doctor and get your Vitamin B12 levels checked. This holds particularly true, if you are a vegetarian or vegan. Such people are often found to have deficiency of this vitamin.
How Vitamin B12 deficiency causes hair loss?
Vitamin B12, which is a water-soluble vitamin, is responsible for the health of nerves and blood cells of the body. The vitamin helps the body make DNA – the genetic material of cells.
The vitamin also helps the body form red blood cells, which transport oxygen to various parts of the body. This includes the scalp.
When Vitamin B12 is low in the body, red blood cell production decreases. Your scalp is unable to get proper nourishment and oxygenated blood. So, their efficiency decreases.
At the same time, due to low production of red blood cells, you may experience anemia. So, people with anemia should also get their Vitamin B12 levels checked. Anemia also causes hair loss.
Signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Lack of B Vitamins can cause hair loss and premature graying of hair.
- Constant fatigue and weakness.
- Weight loss.
- Reduced appetite.
- Irritability.
- Nausea.
- Swollen tongue or mouth.
- Tingling or numbness in hands.
- Change in gait.
- Disturbed vision.
- Cognitive disabilities like reduced power of reasoning and others.
You must not take the above symptoms lightly. If Vitamin B12 deficiency is left uncorrected, it can lead to serious health complications such neurological disorders and others.
So, please consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Treating Vitamin B12 deficiency
There are two ways:
- Create a diet plan that contains foods rich in Vitamin B12
- Take supplements
Foods rich in Vitamin B12
- Plant-based: Fresh beans, kidney beans, peas, parsley, broccoli, beets, and potatoes.
- Animal-based: Eggs, tuna, ham, beef, liver, sardines, clams, oysters, crab, shrimp, and red meat.
- Dairy-based: Milk, yogurt, and cheese.
If you are vegan, you must ensure you cereals and grains are fortified with Vitamin B12. You must also include nutritional yeast in your diet.
If your hair loss is due to deficiency of B vitamins, you will start noticing a reduction in your hair loss once you correct the deficiency.
According to doctors, people who do not eat meat or dairy products may need to take supplements.
KeraViatin Hair & Scalp Health Supplement contains Vitamin B12 as Cyanocobalamin. The supplement is easily available online in the form of soft gels.
In severe deficiency cases, doctor may recommend injections of Vitamin B12. However, you mustn’t let your deficiency become this severe. Catch the symptoms like unexplained hair loss and fatigue earlier and consult a doctor for the right guidance.
Meanwhile, you can easily deal with the hair loss by taking extra care of your hair and using volumizing shampoo and conditioner.
According to doctors, hair loss caused by nutritional deficiencies is temporary. They do not damage follicles, simply make them inefficient or dormant in some cases. Once you correct the deficiencies, follicles gear up again to produce beautiful hair.
Samuel Logan
Samuel is a writer with a proven track record of offering the right advice to various types of hair loss issues faced by men and women. He loves sharing valuable information on how to leverage the power of technology for stunning looks.
