Sometimes a lack of beautiful, thick, voluminous hair isn’t due to an illness or a disorder, but because of something missing in your diet. Here, we examine the link between vitamins and dull hair and thinning hair.

 Biotin Deficiency

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is found in beef, eggs, salmon, sunflower seeds, almonds, sweet potato, and a variety of other foods. Like many B-vitamins, it acts to assist in the metabolization of fats and sugars into energy for the body. It also assists in the maintenance of the nervous system and encourages the production of healthy hair and nails. When Biotin levels drop your hair may become brittle and break more easily; it may also begin to fall out. You can improve Biotin levels by eating more Biotin rich foods, or my taking a daily supplement.

 

Lack of Niacin

Another B vitamin, Niacin is found in turkey, peanuts, mushrooms, liver, chicken breast, tuna, and other natural foods. It assists in turning food to fuel in the body, as well as supporting brain function, maintaining skin health, and improving circulation. One of the symptoms of niacin deficiency is hair loss in the form of alopecia.

 

Not Enough Pantothenic Acid

Vitamin B5, or Pantothenic Acid, is found in legumes, organ meat, avocado, broccoli, and milk. It’s often prescribed to women during menopause to reduce signs of early aging in hair follicles. Pantothenic Acid prevents earl greying and hair loss and regulates the glands which secrete sebum in the scalp. When women don’t get enough vitamin B5, it’s possible to notice hair loss, especially when hormonal changes are present.

 

Too Much Vitamin A

Vitamin A is commonly linked with hair care products because it helps activate the follicle stem to produce hair growth. However, when too much vitamin A is taken, it can have an adverse reaction, causing hair to stop production, rather than increasing it. Unlike the other vitamins on this list, there is no link between vitamin A deficiency and hair loss, but the opposite is true. Vitamin A is found in cantaloupe, sweet potato, carrots, squash, and dark leafy greens.

 

Vitamin deficiency is serious and can cause more problems than hair loss alone. Fortunately, many of the symptoms caused by lack of a vitamin can be improved by supplementing that vitamin. Vitamins work best when they are taken at or around the same time each day, every day. To regain healthy hair growth, it might take weeks of supplementing the deficient vitamin.