According to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin B may play an important role in helping you achieve healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss due to aging, genetics, or dieting. Learn more about how B vitamins are needed by your body to keep your locks looking their best.

What Is Vitamin B?
Found in various types of foods, vitamin B is an essential vitamin your body needs to function properly. There are 13 different types of vitamin B and they all play an important role in keeping your body healthy. However, there are two forms that may help prevent hair loss-vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B3 (niacin). A study published in Cutis reports that both these vitamins have properties that can reverse hair loss or thinning.
Studies Show That Taking Vitamin B Can Have Positive Impact on Hair
The ability to grow hair is an important part of looking great. For many men, it can also be a point of pride, especially when balding sets in. In recent studies, however, researchers have discovered that vitamin B can have a positive impact on hair loss regardless of its severity. In fact, according to a recent study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, people who had high levels of vitamin B12 showed higher levels of hair growth than those who had less vitamin B12 in their system.
The study was small in size but led by Dr. Amanda McClung and published in PLOS One. It involved only 17 participants, all of whom were given either a placebo or various doses of vitamin B12 over time. Of these participants, 13 took 1 milligram per day while four took 2 milligrams per day for six months.
By using scalp biopsies and other methods, they were able to measure changes in hair density and growth rate among these individuals. After six months, they found that those taking 2 milligrams per day experienced more substantial increases in both hair density (30 percent) and growth rate (19 percent).
What’s more?
They didn’t experience any side effects from taking such large amounts of vitamin B12 at once.
Vitamin B For Hair Loss in Women
We know that women are susceptible to a wide range of hair issues. These can be due to genetic factors or can occur for many other reasons. Whatever their cause, these issues might be made worse by stress or lifestyle choices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.
Studies suggest that certain vitamins play an important role in healthy hair growth, most notably vitamin B. The impact of vitamin B is significant, as it affects both hair follicles and individual cells in your scalp’s outer layer (known as epithelial cells). If you’re hoping to try out alternative options in treating your hair loss, you might consider looking into a vitamin regimen.
Vitamin B For Hair Loss in Men
The problem for many men is hair loss can be a major blow to their self-esteem, especially when it starts happening in young adulthood. However, it’s important to remember that hair loss doesn’t mean you are any less of a man. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have dealt with male pattern baldness or other types of hair loss. You may not see it on celebrities as often because they likely have great stylists who know how to work around it (like George Clooney).
If you’re going bald anyway, might as well try out some vitamins! Learn more here! In order to get proper nutrition for your body, it’s always best to eat healthy foods with vitamin B complex rather than taking supplements. While certain vitamins and minerals will help strengthen your hair follicles, too much vitamin A from supplements can actually make your scalp shed more hair.
The Most Important Vitamins for Hair Growth
A study conducted by scientists at Wayne State University found that a deficiency in several vitamins may be connected to hair loss. Specifically, vitamins A, C, D, E, and B may help prevent baldness. You can find these vitamins in foods like broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, salmon, and eggs.
If you’re looking for a concentrated dose of key nutrients for your hair (and overall health), think about adding supplements to your diet too! We recommend talking to your doctor or nutritionist before taking any supplements. Here are some of our favorite vitamin supplements for hair growth:
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
Another option is biotin, which is a water-soluble vitamin that helps maintain healthy skin, nails, and hair. It’s naturally present in most foods but not always enough to keep your strands shiny and strong. Biotin works as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage, says Dr. Julie Russak, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Foods with Natural Sources of Vitamin B
The truth is that just about any food contains some form of vitamin B. For example, while meat is a good source of vitamin B12, milk contains lactobacillus acidophilus, which helps produce more vitamin B. Here are some other foods that contain natural sources of vitamin B oatmeal, whole grains, nuts, beans, and legumes. Fish such as salmon and tuna also have high levels of vitamin B12.
As you can see, it’s not hard to get enough vitamin B in your diet – but if you’re looking for even more options, consider taking a multivitamin or adding supplements to your daily routine. There are many different types of vitamins that can help improve hair growth – so try to find one that offers an all-around solution for healthy hair growth!
The Importance of Proper Diet For Healthy And Beautiful Hair
A proper diet is a big part of looking great. When you don’t eat well, it affects your hair. A diet rich in vitamin B can help you keep your hair looking healthy and shiny while also helping it grow faster. Studies have shown that some vitamins actually help prevent hair loss which is why they are worth including in your diet on a regular basis.
If you already have thinning or thinning hair, talk to your doctor before taking any supplements to ensure that they won’t hurt your current condition. A general multivitamin isn’t meant for treating specific issues so make sure to check with your doctor before taking anything.
Final Thoughts
This study showed that individuals suffering from hair loss, or those just interested in maintaining healthy hair over a lifetime, could potentially benefit from vitamin B supplementation.
While no direct cause and effect were found between vitamin B intake levels and overall hair health, there is reason to believe that taking vitamins specifically focused on increasing vitamin B levels may help reduce instances of hair loss because it’s a gradual process.
