Hair Growth

The 5 Best Vitamins for Hair Growth (+3 Other Nutrients)

Many people view healthy-looking hair as a sign of health or beauty.

Like any other part of your body, hair needs a variety of nutrients to be healthy and grow .

In fact, many nutritional deficiencies are linked to hair loss.

While factors such as age, genetics and hormones also affect hair growth, optimal nutrient intake is key.

Below are 5 vitamins and 3 other nutrients that may be important for hair growth.

Vitamin A

All cells need vitamin A for growth. This includes hair, the fastest growing tissue in the human body.

Vitamin A also helps skin glands make an oily substance called sebum. Sebum moisturizes the scalp and helps keep hair healthy .

Diets deficient in vitamin A may lead to several problems, including hair loss .

While it's important to get enough vitamin A, too much may be dangerous. Studies show that an overdose of vitamin A can also contribute to hair loss.

Sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, spinach and kale are all high in beta-carotene, which is turned into vitamin A.

Vitamin A can also be found in animal products such as milk, eggs and yogurt. Cod liver oil is a particularly good source.

Vitamin B
One of the best known vitamins for hair growth is a B-vitamin called biotin.
Studies link biotin deficiency with hair loss in humans .
Although biotin is used as an alternative hair-loss treatment, those who are deficient have the best results.
However, deficiency is very rare because it occurs naturally in a wide range of foods.
There's also a lack of data about whether biotin is effective for hair growth in healthy individuals.
Other B-vitamins help create red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles. These processes are important for hair growth.

Vitamin C
Free radical damage can block growth and cause your hair to age.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals .

In addition, your body needs vitamin C to create a protein known as collagen — an important part of hair structure.

Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron, a mineral necessary for hair growth.

Vitamin D

Low levels of vitaminD are linked to alopecia, a technical term for hair loss .

Research also shows that vitamin D may help create new follicles — the tiny pores in the scalp where new hair can grow .

Vitamin D is thought to play a role in hair production, but most research focuses on vitamin D receptors. The actual role of vitamin D in hair growth is unknown.

Vitamin E

Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress.

In one study, people with hair loss experienced a 34.5% increase in hair growth after supplementing with vitamin E for 8 months .

The placebo group had only a 0.1% increase .

Iron 

Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to your cells. This makes it an important mineral for many bodily functions, including hair growth.

Iron deficiency, which causes anemia, is a major cause of hair loss. 

Zinc

Zinc plays an important role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps keep the oil glands around the follicles working properly.

Hair loss is a common symptom of zinc deficiency .

Studies show zinc supplements reduce hair loss caused by zinc deficiency .

However, there are some anecdotal reports that supplementing with too high of a dose can also contribute to hair loss.

Protein

Hair is made almost entirely of

Protein  Consuming enough is important for hair growth.

Animal studies show that protein deficiency may decrease hair growth and even lead to hair loss.