Hair Loss Can be Caused by Iron Deficiency




cast iron pan Iron deficiency, the most prominent manifestation of which is anaemia, is widely spread in the modern world. For our grandparents, dietary iron was an abundant mineral generously supplied by unprocessed water from wells and clean springs, red meats and organ meats from pasture-fed animals, and cast iron cooking pans and other kitchen utensils.

Nowadays, tap and bottled water has little or no iron, the consumption of red meats is generally discouraged by governmental health care authorities, organ meats are not popular anymore, and stainless steel or non-stick cookware have replaced cast iron. Add to that that some meats are kosherized or made into “halal”, meaning that the blood - the main source of iron - is removed from them.  Besides, people who suffer from digestive disorders, such as celiac disease, irritable bowl syndrome, Crohn?s disease, stomach ulcers, and others, are often unable to absorb even that little amount of iron (mostly synthetic dietary iron which is added to cereal crops during their processing) still present in our modern foods.

Within a human body, iron is mostly contained in blood, where it helps to produce oxygen-carrying red cells (haemoglobin) and myoglobin - a type of red blood cells found within muscle tissue. Iron participates in many important bodily functions, such as the oxygenation of blood cells or the nourishment of muscle cells. However, not many people know that iron also plays a significant role in the growth and healthy maintenance of scalp hair. If the diet of an individual does not contain enough iron, the body derives this mineral by using up “non-essential” for life iron stores, such as those contained in hair cells. This is how iron deficiency triggers the process of hair loss.

Gradual hair loss and hair thinning is especially noticeable in pre-menopausal women. One major study, that was conducted several years ago, examined a group of fifty three young women suffering from telogen effluvium type of hair loss. It was revealed that seventy two percent of them were also iron-deficient, which happened to be the main cause of their hair loss problems.  Especially susceptible are women who do not consume enough meat or who give it up altogether thinking that vegetarianism is a healthier option. Another reason for frequent iron deficiency in women of childbearing age has to do with a monthly blood loss during menstruations, as well as with pregnancies. As iron is mainly found in blood, every menstruation can wash away up to 15 mg of iron, while a pregnancy is even more iron-costly - up to 1000 mg of iron can be lost by women during one pregnancy. 

 What are the recommendations to restore a normal hair growth, the shedding of which has been caused by iron deficiency? The best way to restore bodily iron deposits is to switch to a nutrient-dense diet, which should consist of abundant pasture-fed red and organ meats and contain enough protein and animal fats that facilitate the absorption of iron. Also, it has to be noted that excess consumption of tea, coffee, and caffeinated beverages, as well as the ingestion of wheat bran and raw egg yolks, inhibits the absorption of dietary iron. Other products, such as fresh meats, wine, and fruits rich in vitamin C, can enhance the assimilation of iron from other foods. 

steakPopular iron supplements are a poor choice since they can cause constipation and digestive distress, which makes them unsuitable for people with gastrointestinal disorders - those who need extra dietary iron most of all. The most efficient and the least side effect - prone form of iron is water-soluble iron carbonyl, which can be obtained from high-quality multi-mineral or iron supplements found in good health-food stores.

Herbert Goldberg

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Posted on November 3, 2007 
Filed Under Hair Loss Reasons

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