Vitamin deficiencies Share on Pinterest White and gray hairs may start to grow at any age, and may be caused by a range of different factors. Any deficiencies of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature graying.
They found that noradrenaline, also known as norepinephrine, was key to stress-induced hair graying. By injecting noradrenaline under the skin of unstressed mice, the researchers were able to cause melanocyte stem cell loss and hair graying. Noradrenaline is produced mostly by the adrenal glands.
There is also some evidence that changes in hormone levels, particularly sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc.), can cause hair to turn gray. There is also a link between gray hair and changes in the scalp due to aging.
Thyroid disorders like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can cause hormonal imbalances in the body, which may result in premature greying of hair. The health of your thyroid gland can determine the colour of your hair strands. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormones produced by the gland can produce less melanin.
Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.
People with vitamin B12 deficiency can have neurological symptoms and/or damage without anemia (lack of red blood cells). General physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include: Feeling very tired or weak. Experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
There isn't a lot of medical data to back it up, but some research does show that magnesium deficiency may be behind some (not all) causes of gray hair. If this is the cause of your greying, then making sure your magnesium stores are optimal could stop or even reverse the greying of your hair.
Vitamin deficiencies
Any deficiencies of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature graying. One 2015 report in the journal Development notes various deficiency studies on vitamin D-3, vitamin B-12, and copper and their connection to graying hair.
As with other nutrients, it may be present in very low levels (nutritional deficiencies), relatively low levels (sub-optimal levels), appropriate levels and toxic levels. When zinc levels are low, hair loss, delayed growth, the appearance of grey hairs and various types of immune deficiencies may be observed.
A lack of RBCs can lead to a lack of melanin, which causes premature greying. You must consume foods rich in vitamin B12, such as shellfish, beef liver, cheese, or eggs for Vitamin B12. Iron deficiency can also lead to grey hair.
“Some women will find their hair greying more fervently during the Menopause. There are lifestyle changes you can adopt to help prevent this from happening – namely, no smoking and a balanced diet containing lots of iron, vitamin D and the B vitamins.
Hot flashes, flushes, and night sweats are the most common symptoms of low estrogen. At times, blood rushes to your skin's surface. This can give you a feeling of warmth (hot flash). Your face may look flushed.
People use “gray,” “white” and “silver” interchangeably to describe hair that is turning or has turned. Its appearance — whether it looks, gray, white or silver — depends on how much natural color, or pigment, remains, experts say. Hair that has lost all its color typically appears white.
Gray hair comes down to melanin, or rather the lack of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its color. Gray hair has reduced melanin, while white hair completely lacks it. This occurs because of a gradual decline in the number of stem cells that mature to become melanin-producing cells.
“Stress always elevates levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, so we thought that cortisol might play a role,” Hsu said. “But surprisingly, when we removed the adrenal gland from the mice so that they couldn't produce cortisol-like hormones, their hair still turned gray under stress.”
Certain superfoods can help reduce premature greying of hair. Green leafy vegetables refer to the cruciferous vegetable group. This group includes spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, and so on. These vegetables are very rich in iron, folate, vitamins, calcium, and other nutrients that improve hair health.
The study included 52 participants with prematurely gray hair, and a staggering 38.5% of them were found to have a vitamin B12 deficiency. However, it's important to note that Vitamin B12 isn't a magic potion to prevent graying hair.
Naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide can also build up in the hair, bleaching the color. Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and Blacks in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50.
If you are going through premature hair greying, you need to check on your iron and copper intake. Both the minerals have proven to be effective in increasing melanin in your hair. Dark green vegetables, almonds, peanuts, dark chocolates and lentils are rich sources of iron and minerals.
A new study shows that stress really can give you gray hair. Researchers found that the body's fight-or-flight response plays a key role in turning hair gray. Your hair color is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
Other important minerals for healthy hair are selenium and magnesium. People who are deficient in these important minerals have more risk of their hair turning gray. Another important mineral for hair health is iodine. Iodine is an important building block in thyroid hormones which play a role in hair pigmentation.