Can iron deficiency lead to hair loss ??

Many women and men have iron deficiency (anemia). The symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent infections, brittle nails and hair loss too.

Iron deficiency hair loss is caused when the body lacks enough iron to produce hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is the ingredient that carries oxygen for the growth and repair of all body cells including the cells that make up hair follicles.

Temporary hair loss such as iron deficiency hair loss is called telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is an abnormality of the hair growth cycle that causes hair that would normally be in the anagen (growing) phase of the hair growth cycle to be prematurely pushed into the telogen (resting) phase. This causes the affected hairs to fall out. Telogen effuvium is usually temporary if you promptly address the cause. Because hair is a non-essential body part, hair growth is one of the first processes to be affected when iron or other nutrient deficiencies occur.

Medical Tests to Diagnose Iron Deficiency

If you believe you have iron deficiency, consult a doctor to measure your iron levels. The following three tests can show how much iron your body is using from stored iron reserves. Tests to measure iron levels include:

• Serum iron. This test measures the amount of iron in your blood. Your blood iron level can be normal even if the total amount of iron in your body is low, so doctors usually recommend doing this test along with other iron tests.
• Serum ferritin. By measuring ferritin, a protein that helps store iron in the body, your doctor can find out how much of your body’s stored iron has been used. Low serum ferritin impairs hair growth as the body seeks to conserve iron for essential body functions.
• Transferrin level (or total iron-binding capacity). Transferrin is a protein in your blood that carries iron, and total iron-binding capacity measures how much transferrin is not carrying iron. Individuals with iron deficiency will often have a high level of transferrin that has no iron.

REMEDIES TO CURE IT ???

If you have iron deficiency or if you simply want to increase the healthy hair nutrients in your diet, eat more iron-rich foods or take a dietary supplement with iron.

The most iron-rich foods are red meats such as beef and liver. Other animal proteins such as chicken, pork, fish and shellfish are also good sources of iron. Research suggests that the body absorbs iron from animal sources better than iron from non-meat (vegetarian) foods. For vegetarian iron sources, eat more spinach and dark leafy green vegetables; beans and lentils; tofu; dried fruits such as prunes and apricots; and prune juice.

In addition, Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C are red peppers, strawberries, spinach and citrus fruits.

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