A Scientific Hypothesis on the Role of Nutritional Supplements for Effective Management of Hair Loss and Promoting Hair Regrowth

Our quest for establishing a cause and effect relationship has lead us to accept that only androgens and DHT causes hair loss. However there are various other internal and external factors resulting in hair loss due to dysregulation of the hair growth cycles. There are non hormonal factors that influence and carry out metabolic interactions maintaining a cellular environment to ensure the intricate balance of hair growth cycles. Oxidative stress generated by ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) from external exposure to pollution, smoking, pesticides in foods, contamination of soil, water, etc. as well as excessive ROS formation due to internal metabolic derangements, can lead to hair loss. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have been clinically detected in hair loss patients and are known to alter the immune response. Though the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies is common these are covert deficiencies. The nutrient deficiencies cannot always be detected clinically as the deficiencies are masked and compensated by self regulating processes of redistributing the utilization of nutrients in the body, arresting hair growth during stress, sickness, exertion, recovery, etc. which we know as telogen effluvium, and by novel mechanisms like autophagy. In deficiency states body conserves the nutrients by restricting hair growth. It is worthy to note that apparent deficiency of a single nutrient has a cascading effect on optimum utilization of multiple other nutrients and functioning of other body systems. When we desire to stimulate or ensure hair growth it is logical to ensure a supply of building blocks, which are the necessary nutrients, in order to support cell division and growth. We have been investigating hair loss all the time. Let us now change our perspective and direct our efforts on how to strengthen the hair roots to withstand the onslaught of damage and enhance hair growth. In the present review, a low dose comprehensive cyclical nutrient therapy, for hair growth utilized in our practice is included. Here we propose the hypothesis and discuss the scientific basis and mechanism of how to achieve hair growth with the use of nutritional supplements