Supplements

Many patients inquire about nutritional supplements for hair loss, and determining their effectiveness can be somewhat challenging given that so many options are available. The usefulness of these supplements likely depends on the type of hair loss being treated and an individual’s characteristics. For instance, iron supplementation can be helpful for women experiencing hair shedding. Nutritional supplements may also be beneficial for those who don’t consume a balanced diet and are lacking certain key vitamins and nutrients. However, it remains unclear if these supplements are generally effective overall for hair loss or for patients with hair thinning.

A recent review article examined this issue by including 30 articles on nutritional supplements: 17 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 11 non-RCT clinical studies, and two case series studies. This review considered various types of hair loss, not just hair shedding or thinning. The study found that Viviscal, Nutrafol, Nourkrin, Lamdapil, Pantogar, capsaicin and isoflavone, omegas 3 and 6 with antioxidants, apple nutraceutical, total glucosides of paeony and compound glycyrrhizin tablets, zinc, tocotrienol, and pumpkin seed oil demonstrated the highest-quality evidence for potential benefit. Additionally, adverse events were rare and mild for all the supplements evaluated.

In particular, Nutrafol, Viviscal, and Untangled are comprehensive supplements containing multiple ingredients, including proprietary components. They have shown benefits for individuals with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and/or hair thinning, and are typically recommended for patients interested in nutritional supplements.

It is important to note that some comprehensive nutritional supplements may interfere with blood tests or other laboratory tests (specifically demonstrated with biotin supplementation) and should be discontinued prior to undergoing lab work. Some supplements may also interact with other medications or cause unwanted side effects.

In summary, nutritional supplements may have a role in hair restoration, and a comprehensive supplement could potentially improve hair thinning with relatively low risk. However, it should be incorporated as only one component of a comprehensive hair restoration program.