Most assume that their ever-thinning hair is a result of genetics and there is little to do to stop it. While that's somewhat true, researchers have found that some cases of hair loss may be tied to diet, not DNA.
In a review of previous work, doctors from the Cleveland Clinic have found that low iron levels in the body may be linked to hair loss in both men and women. While there is no hard evidence to suggest that iron supplements would help to regrow hair, some experts do see iron as a potential supplement to other forms of hair-loss treatment.
"We believe that treatment for hair loss is enhanced when iron deficiencyÂ…is treated," the study authors wrote in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Most associate iron deficiency with anemia, an inability of the blood to carry oxygen due to low levels of hemoglobin. In fact, iron deficiency anemia commonly causes the symptom of large amounts of hair loss. But iron deficiency can also occur without showing any symptoms. In fact, iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, often going unnoticed by both patients and their doctors.
In this review, however, Dr. Leonid Trost and colleagues found that iron deficiency may be at least somewhat linked to one very noticeable symptom—hair loss. But it isn't clear if low iron levels cause hair loss or if it just makes hair loss worse.
"Hair loss is not just caused by one thing," said Trost, "But milder forms of iron deficiency are linked to some types ...
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