Researchers to Study the Role of Vitamin D in Pattern Hair Loss

Androgenetic Alopecia - more commonly referred to as Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss - is an incredibly common issue, worldwide.

Whilst the relevant genetic propensity is inherited, there are many additional factors involved in hair loss, including external influences such as stress, underlying illnesses and dietary problems.

One aspect researchers often touch on is the role vitamin D plays in hair growth. This has previously been widely studied in relation to both genetic hairloss and the autoimmune disorder Alopecia Areata, as it is suspected that a lack of vitamin D can negatively affect hair follicles.

Assiut University in Egypt is now aiming to establish the precise role vitamin D may play in Male and Female Pattern Baldness through a new observational study due to start in March 2019.

Evaluating vitamin D levels in people with pattern hair loss

Details submitted to the clinicaltrials.gov website by the Assiut study lead, outline various reasons why it is valuable to investigate vitamin D in relation to hair loss and hair growth.

"Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone that plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone health. It has three sources: endogenous synthesis in the skin, which is induced by Ultraviolet B radiation; dietary intake; and supplementation," writes team member Miral Hassan.

"Basically, Vitamin D is a modulator of both innate and adaptive immune systems through its various effects on T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages. There is a well-established causal connection between vitamin D deficiency and some autoimmune diseases, and possible association with some hair disorders, as it has been demonstrated that vitamin D receptors are strongly expressed in hair follicles and keratinocytes. Such an expression was found to be necessary for maintenance of the normal hair cycle. Also, it has also been shown that lack of vitamin D receptors reduces epidermal differentiation and hair follicle growth, and that an optimum concentration of Vitamin D3 is essential to delay aging and hair loss."

The trial will comprise 90 participants aged between 20 and 60 years of age. These will be split into three equal groups - 30 men with Male Pattern Hair Loss, 30 women with Female Pattern Hair Loss, and 30 people, both men and women, who do not have Androgenetic Alopecia. Those without a hair loss condition will be used as an age and sex-matched control group.

Each of the 90 volunteers will have blood samples taken and tested to establish their serum vitamin D levels. The findings of which will be studied and released towards the end of 2019.

Still discovering factors that can influence genetic hair loss

With specific reference as to why it is important to consider vitamin D with particular regard to Androgenetic Alopecia, in addition to citing the conflicting results of previous studies, Hassan states, "Etiopathogenesis of Androgenetic Alopecia has not yet been fully elucidated. Genetic factors, hair follicle cycle abnormalities, aging process and androgen dependent process including end organ sensitivity have been all incriminated as etiological factors."

So, given the myriad factors that can influence, exacerbate or even trigger Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss, are still being discovered, the Egypt-based team considers this an avenue certainly worthy of exploration. After all, should vitamin D supplementation help people with genetic hair thinning, it would certainly be an easy, not to mention widely accessible, hair loss solution.

That's not to say that getting your RDA of the sunshine vitamin will cure hair loss - unfortunately this is far from being the case. There is still the hereditary sensitivity to DHT - the testosterone by-product which causes thinning hair and shedding in cases of genetic hair loss - contend with. There are two clinically-proven hair loss treatments which are both MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for this purpose, however.

Where vitamin D may be proven useful is as a hair growth supporting product; a non-pharmaceutical aid which can be used in addition to the authorised treatments.

Vitamin D3 is, in fact, already included for its potential benefits in Belgravia's highly-targeted food supplement, Hair Vitalics. This has been carefully formulated by the clinic's hair experts to contain a number of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, including biotin, zinc and selenium to help maintain normal healthy hair growth.

Anyone concerned about losing their hair should consult a specialist who will be able to provide a diagnosis and personalised treatment advice, where appropriate. Additionally, anyone thinking about changing their nutritional intake significantly is advised to speak to their GP first to ensure they are meeting their specific dietary needs in the best way possible.