Iron Deficiency May Lead to Hair Loss

Iron Deficiency May Lead to Hair Loss

PARIS--Iron deficiency and depletion may lead to hair loss, accordingto researchers at LOreal, a French cosmetic group, who partnered with theeight-year SU.VI.MAX (SUpplementation on VItamines et Mineraux AntioXidants)study (www.suvimax.org//sites/suvimax_en).

Ferritin levels were assessed in 3,759 non-menopausal women. Approximately 48percent of subjects suffered from iron deficiency or iron depletion; ferritinlevels between 15 mcg/L and 40 mcg/L are deemed iron deficient, ferritin levelsbelow 15 mcg/L are deemed iron depletion, and ferritin levels above 40 mcg/L(approximately 70 mcg/L) are considered normal, according to LOral.

After cross-referencing data of hair loss and iron reserves, researchersfound non-menopausal women with severe hair loss had significantly lower ironlevels compared to women who did not suffer from excessive hair loss.Researchers also found women with normal ferritin levels (70 mcg/L) may have a28 percent greater risk of severe hair loss if their ferritin levels drops to 40mcg/L (the verge of iron deficiency).