Stop Male Hair Loss

Whether your particular form of hair loss is male pattern baldness or hair loss secondary to other factors, there are some vitamins that can help improve the health of your hair.
This does not mean you need to take vitamin supplements. Rather it means that you should include in your diet, natural sources of these vitamins.

Before we launch into a discussion of the vitamins that can enhance or support hair growth, you should realize that it is an optimal amount of each vitamin that is required. There really is no point in binging on the vitamins, they probably will not have any added benefit taken in excess and there is the possibility of causing you harm if taken in excess.

B Vitamins
As I am sure you are aware vitamin B is actually a group of different vitamins and in this group are some vitamins that are essential for hair growth

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine. Vitamin B6 deficiency has been associated with hair loss in men. Vitamin B6 especially in combination with zinc has been shown to inhibit DHT. As we discussed in Causes of Hair Loss, DHT is a factor in the development of male pattern baldness. Again we have to reiterate that an excess of vitamins can cause problems so what you are aiming for is an optimal amount of vitamin in your diet. Good sources of vitamin B6 include nuts, potatoes, bananas, chicken, turkey and wholegrain.

Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid. This B vitamin helps prevent gray hair and hair loss. Dietary sources of Vitamin B5 include eggs, whole wheat, beans, lentils, fresh vegetables (have to be fresh and not overcooked because Vitamin B5 is easily destroyed by cooking), brewer’s yeast and liver

Vitamin B3 or Niacin. This is a B vitamin that helps promote hair growth by increasing the blood flow in the scalp. Again if you refer to the Causes of Hair Loss post, poor blood supply is one of the mechanisms of hair loss. Dietary sources include milk, liver, green leafy vegetables and chicken

Para-Aminobenzoic Acid/Folic Acid. Not essentially a hair growth vitamin, PABA is a component of folic acid that it helps stop graying. Found in the same foods that contain Pantothenic acid

Biotin. Biotin is a B vitamin that paradoxically is also called vitamin H and is essential for cell growth. In hair growth, Biotin’s role is to strengthen the growing hair. It increases the thickness of the hair and the elasticity of the hair shaft. Deficiency of biotin causes alopecia. Biotin is found in high concentrations in egg yolk and liver

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important in the production of sebum which helps nourish the growing hair by keeping the scalp healthy. Deficiency of Vitamin A will cause dry scalp and hair loss. Paradoxically, an excess of vitamin A also causes hair loss. Again it’s our mantra of “an optimal amount of vitamins” Dietary sources of Vitamin A include oily fish, cheese, sweet potatoes, carrots, liver and spinach

Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid

This is one of those essential vitamins that has a role in virtually everything. A great antioxidant, it also helps in tissue repair. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin E or Tocopherol

The exact mechanism by which vitamin E helps promote hair growth is not known. However Vitamin E is known to cause capillary growth. Capillaries are the tiniest types of blood vessels that are the connection between our tissues and the circulatory system. More capillaries implies a better blood supply and this may be the way in which vitamin E enhances hair growth and helps prevent hair loss. Food sources of Vitamin E include Spinach, Milk, Eggs, Avocado and wholegrain

Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and to help prevent hair loss, but as you can see from above, a good diet should provide you with all the vitamins you need