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Dietary supplements for effective hair growth: Biotin, Vitamin D, and Horsetail
October 16, 2023
Hair is the most direct expression of our personality, our first identifying feature; In short, it's not just about the haircut or styling.
Taking care of your own hair is also a way to feel good about yourself, and in addition to genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, diet plays a crucial role, with the help of hair supplements that stimulate the biochemical processes of hair cells.
It all starts with the hair follicle, which is located in the deeper layer of the skin and from which the hairs emerge individually. These hairs consist of an inner area called the medulla and an outer area called the cortex, which in turn is covered by another layer of dead cells that form a thin protective membrane called the cuticle.
The cellular structure and composition of hair therefore depend on various factors, which can be genetic and hormonal and can change with age and gender.
Hair growth factors
Hair growth can vary in the range of 1 to 1.5 cm per month, while the average lifespan of each individual hair is between 2 and 6 years*.
After adolescence, when hormone levels stabilize, hair grows and develops to its full potential, then begins to lose speed and thickness after the age of 30. From this point on, environmental and hormonal factors play a crucial role in maintaining or losing optimal hair condition.
Environmental factors and hormonal factors
Highly exposed, the hair naturally absorbs the environmental conditions and is exposed to all climatic and chemical changes (frost, fixing sprays, hair dyes, etc.).
There are also other factors that can have a significant impact on the health of the hair, such as stress, hormonal changes or even the use of certain medications, which can lead to hair weakening and even premature hair loss.
Nutrient properties to care for your own hair
Nutrition naturally plays a crucial role in preventing the gradual weakening of our hair.
In fact, the supply of nutrients intended for the cells of the medulla and cortex determines the condition of our hair.
Therefore, to prevent hair loss, it becomes crucial to improve your diet by consulting an experienced trichologist or even taking nutritional supplements that can provide a balanced intake of vitamins, proteins and minerals.
Hair Growth Supplements: Do They Work?
The vitamins are vital substances and act in almost all cellular processes, including those in the hair cells. Unlike plants, our bodies cannot produce them in sufficient quantities on their own, so we have to get them through food.
The vitamins involved in the hair growth process include:
vitamin H (biotin);
vitamin E;
Vitamin A;
Vitamin D;
B vitamins.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Produced by the skin, vitamin D is also present in the hair follicles, where the root is located.
Therefore, the link between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss is well established, as is the link between taking vitamin D3 and the formation of new hair follicles*.
According to a study by the University of Seoul, vitamin D may also be involved in hair growth*.
Benefits of Vitamin A for Hair
Vitamin A regulates the synthesis of keratin, the main component of hair, nails and skin. The importance of this vitamin for hair care is therefore obvious, as it has a direct effect on the structure and external appearance.
Adequate intake of vitamin A also fights hair aging and reduces the appearance of dandruff. An effective replacement for vitamin A is beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that provides the same vitamin intake.
Moringa Dietary Supplement: A Cocktail of Vitamins and Minerals Moringa oleifera is an exceptionally nutritious plant rich in vitamins and minerals that contribute to hair remineralization and support the absorption of other essential nutrients for hair growth.
Here is the nutrient content based on the nutrition label per 100g of moringa:
proteins 43.97 g;
calcium 185 mg;
phosphorus 112 mg;
potassium 337 mg;
sodium 9 mg;
Manganese 1.063 mg;
iron 4 mg;
zinc 0.6 mg;
Vitamin C 51.97 mg;
thiamine 0.257 mg;
riboflavin 0.66 mg;
pantothenic acid 0.125 mg;
Pyridoxine 1.2 mg.
Combining these nutrients with horsetail, millet and biotin in a specific hair health supplement enhances their effects.
Hair growth products with biotin
Another important vitamin for hair health is vitamin H, also known as biotin, which is responsible for protein metabolism.
Its importance for nail and hair health is proven by numerous scientific studies* that highlight the importance of biotin in people with brittle or difficult-to-comb hair.
Copper, zinc and other valuable minerals for the hair
Minerals* help give our hair a healthy appearance and are therefore the subject of intensive scientific research into the composition of hair supplements. Particularly noteworthy are:
Iron;
Selenium;
Sulfur;
Zinc;
Copper.
These two, in particular, are involved in the keratin synthesis process and protein (zinc) absorption, while copper is involved in the pigmentation processes and promotes melanin production.
Millet: The dietary supplement against hair loss Millet is a valuable grain for maintaining hair health and strengthening it to prevent hair loss, thanks to its high content of B vitamins.
As emphasized by the experts at the Humanitas Hospital Group*, millet alone cannot do much: it should be integrated into a balanced diet (with sufficient proteins, iron, vitamins and minerals) and a healthy lifestyle.
It is also strongly recommended to avoid stress as much as possible, as it can trigger alopecia areata, a phenomenon that leads to sudden hair loss. Stress disrupts nutrient absorption and therefore becomes a real enemy of any care.
Horsetail in hair growth products
The good fortune of horsetail, a plant known since Sumerian times for its amazing properties, including wound healing, is based on its rich content of minerals, flavonoids and silicon. For this reason, it is able to provide our body with the necessary nutrients to strengthen bones, teeth, nails and hair.
Proteins to support and regenerate hair
Proteins become the structural basis of hair, especially the amino acids in keratin.
Simply put, it can be clearly said that the density, elasticity and strength of hair depends on the amount of available keratin in our body.
Keratin makes up between 65 and 95% of hair tissue and is the substance that determines its impermeability, strength and elasticity.
In fact, healthy hair should be able to stretch up to 5% without breaking when under tension. The plasticity of keratin allows hair to remember the keratin structures that determine the shape of our hair and return them to their natural "movement", as happens every time we dry them after showering.
Now try the dietary supplement:
References:
*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20362670/
*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24635081/
*Patel, Deepa P., Shane M. Swink, and Leslie Castelo-Soccio. “A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss.” Skin Appendage Disorders 3.3 (2017)