Hair Thinning - Vitamin Deficient?

[DanielleA]

Hope someone can answer this question. A friend at work, who is a vegetarian, has noticed that her hair is getting thinner and thinner. She thinks she may be deficient in something. Could it be a vitamin deficiency? Does it have anything to do with her not eating meat?

Any suggestions/insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

[DanielleA]

Forgot to mention that she's also anemic. Would that cause hair loss?

[bree marsh]

does she take a B12 supplement? she may have a B12 deficiency, which causes megaloblastic anemia. i don't think that specifically causes hair loss. high folate levels inside the body can mask B12 deficiency, so if she eats a lot of leafy greens, legumes, grains, and seeds like most veggies do, then lab tests may not show a b12 deficiency!!! i would advise her to take a supplement! hair loss is more due to hormones and stress...as i am experiencing this as well!

[DanielleA]

Thanks Bree. I was hoping someone with a nutritional background (like yourself) would answer this post.

I will suggest B-12 to her. I think her diet contains a lot of fast foods, so I'm sure she's not getting enough nutrients from food. I thought it could be hormones also, but she's on the pill, so her hormones are regulated throughout the month.

Hope you are ok! :o You are losing your hair too???

[bree marsh]

so what veggie fast foods does she get, french fries????
yes, i have noticed significantly more hair loss over the last year, i think it is stress and changing my diet from high to low cals a lot and visa versa! i don't think it is a vitamin deficiency, because i eat tons of fruit/veggies and take a multi. my doctor told me that you go through cycles and hair loss/growth, so....

[CydneyWalker_etheric]

hair loss can be brought on by a biotin deficiency. i am a vegetarian and dietitian. i haven't suffered any hair loss with being vegetarian. i did notice my hair thinned quite a bit when i stopped taking the pill.

foods that are rich in biotin for your friend - swiss chard, soybeans (edamame), bulgur and brown rice, brewer's yeast, green peas, sunflower seeds, and oats. just to name a few foods.

i counsel gastric bypass patients and they often suffer from hair loss. your friend should go see a dietitian to see if they are getting enough protein and biotin. there are online dietitians or if your friend has insurance that usually will cover the expense of a face to face visit.

[Erik]

Also a symptom (one of many mind you) of possible hypothyroid activity.

[CydneyWalker_etheric]

Also a symptom (one of many mind you) of possible hypothyroid activity.

so true, esp if she eats lots of soy and is a soy sensititve person, then she could be impacting her thyroid activity.

[Erik]

so true, esp if she eats lots of soy and is a soy sensititve person, then she could be impacting her thyroid activity.

Or if she's a chronic dieter - Euthyroid Sick Syndrome

[DanielleA]

so what veggie fast foods does she get, french fries????
yes, i have noticed significantly more hair loss over the last year, i think it is stress and changing my diet from high to low cals a lot and visa versa! i don't think it is a vitamin deficiency, because i eat tons of fruit/veggies and take a multi. my doctor told me that you go through cycles and hair loss/growth, so....

hair loss can be brought on by a biotin deficiency. i am a vegetarian and dietitian. i haven't suffered any hair loss with being vegetarian. i did notice my hair thinned quite a bit when i stopped taking the pill.

foods that are rich in biotin for your friend - swiss chard, soybeans (edamame), bulgur and brown rice, brewer's yeast, green peas, sunflower seeds, and oats. just to name a few foods.

i counsel gastric bypass patients and they often suffer from hair loss. your friend should go see a dietitian to see if they are getting enough protein and biotin. there are online dietitians or if your friend has insurance that usually will cover the expense of a face to face visit.

Also a symptom (one of many mind you) of possible hypothyroid activity.

Thanks, I will send her all this info. Working 10+ hrs a day in an office is terrible for most people's diets. I would say she eats either a salad, or something like pizza or pasta most days.

Funny thing is, both of her parents are doctors, and they don't seem to have an answer for this!

I told her not to worry. Stressing it will only make things worse.

[Lisa]

Sounds like thyroid/hormonal issues...