Hair loss can be a distressing experience for men. While genetics, stress, and styling practices can all contribute, vitamin deficiencies can also play a significant role. This article explores the best hair vitamins for men, how they work, and what else you can do to promote healthy hair growth.
Vitamins are essential nutrients that the body needs to maintain overall health, including hair health. A complete absence of any vitamin will lead to illness. Most vitamins are readily available in our diets, and inexpensive oral supplements can be used to ensure adequate levels are available for our bodily functions. Excess intake of vitamins can cause disease states as well or are eliminated from the body unused, so in spite of the availability of heavily promoted nutrient supplements claiming to improve hair growth and quality, the consumer should be cautious and seek the most cost-effective options.
Several vitamins and minerals are crucial for healthy hair growth. Deficiencies in these nutrients can contribute to hair loss or thinning.
Biotin is a critical vitamin for healthy hair growth, and deficiency will lead to thinning hair. However, biotin deficiency is very rare and almost always associated with an inherited disorder called biotinidase deficiency. Biotin deficiency has never been reported in healthy individuals with a normal diet, and there is no evidence that biotin supplements will help grow hair in the absence of a documented deficiency. Acquired biotin deficiency may occur with raw egg consumption, alcohol use disorder, pregnancy, and isotretinoin and antibiotic use. Notably, excess biotin intake may interfere with a number of important lab tests, including thyroid and other hormone tests such as pregnancy tests.
Natural Sources: Biotin is found in eggs, liver, wheat and oat cereals, several vegetables, rice, and dairy products, so even vegetarians and vegans can fulfill their body’s need for this vitamin.
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Recommended Daily Intake: Most sources state that a daily intake of 30 mcg is sufficient to prevent deficiency. Biotin remains commonly recommended by hair loss specialists at doses up to 5,000 mcg.
Excess Intake Risks: There are no reports of biotin toxicity even at very high doses of 100,000 mcg per day. However, there is also no evidence to support such doses for the treatment of hair loss or any other condition. Also, too much biotin may also lead to acne or incorrect lab results. Jabbari recommends stopping high-dose biotin at least one week before any scheduled bloodwork.
Vitamin D plays an important role in healthy hair development as well as in many other physiologic processes, so deficiency may have detrimental effects. However, exactly how deficiency impairs hair growth is unknown. There are reports in the literature of successful hair regrowth after correcting Vitamin D deficiency, but in areas such as the northeast US, where Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent, supplements rarely bring clinical benefits. Hair loss specialists who regularly screen for Vitamin D levels help patients attain normal levels for all of its potential benefits.
Natural Sources: Dietary Vitamin D is most easily obtained through fortified foods such as milk, yogurt, orange juice, and cheese, in fatty fish including sardines, salmon and tuna, and in egg yolks and mushrooms. The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency suggests that most people do not consume adequate dietary Vitamin D, nor have sufficient sun exposure for adequate skin conversion of Vitamin D.
Recommended Daily Intake: Most experts recommend a daily Vitamin D intake of 2,000-5,000 IU for adults, and checking Vitamin D blood levels at least annually in order to make appropriate adjustments in intake. Severe deficiency can be treated with high-dose prescription strength Vitamin D for short periods of time.
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Excess Intake Risks: Severe Vitamin D deficiency is defined as blood levels of 20 ng/ml or less, mild deficiency at 30-50 ng/ml, and normal levels at 50-70 ng/ml. Levels above 80ng/ml are excessive, and severe toxicity, known as hypervitaminosis D or vitamin D intoxication occurs at levels above 150 ng/ml. This would require extremely high daily doses over a long period, with symptoms including bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones. Progression to confusion, apathy, recurrent vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration may occur if supplements are not stopped.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient critical to normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth, and immune function. Both deficiencies and excess levels can contribute to disease states, and for hair, in particular, deficiency can lead to follicular hyperkeratosis. Vitamin A is part of a family of compounds including retinal, retinol, retinoic acid and carotenoids. Vitamin A deficiency is rare outside of developing countries and is unlikely to play a role in hair loss for the majority of patients. Notably, high intake of Vitamin A during pregnancy may be associated with birth defects.
Natural Sources: Vitamin A is found in a variety of meats, fish and vegetables, including carrots, salmon, kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, dried apricots, broccoli, butter, butternut squash, cantaloupe, mango, red bell pepper, goat cheese, peas, cow’s milk, tomato, beef liver, pumpkin, eggs and grapefruit. In addition, Vitamin A is fat soluble and extensively stored in the liver, so for most people even prolonged periods of inadequate intake will not lead to clinical deficiency.
Recommended Daily Intake: The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 900 micrograms (mcg) retinol activity equivalents (RAE) per day for men and 700 mcg RAE per day for women. This is equivalent to 3,000 international units (IU) for men and 2,333 IU for women.
Excess Intake Risks: Vitamin A toxicity is rare, with the most severe examples occurring after ingestion of polar bear liver, which can be fatal. Excess supplementation over 10,000 IU per day may produce symptoms including blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache, nervous system effects, liver abnormalities, fatigue, muscle weakness, bone and skin changes and others. The adverse effects of both acute and chronic toxicity are reversed after consumption is stopped. Too much vitamin A can harm the liver, cause hair loss and be dangerous during pregnancy.
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Vitamin C is another essential nutrient required for the biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine, and certain neurotransmitters, and is also involved in protein metabolism. Collagen and other proteins are important for healthy hair growth. Vitamin C helps the absorption of plant-based iron, another important nutrient for healthy hair growth. Severe Vitamin C deficiency produces scurvy, a life-threatening disease that includes follicular hyperkeratosis and corkscrew hairs. Interestingly, smokers have impaired Vitamin C absorption and need greater dietary intake. Vitamin C is essential for producing and maintaining healthy collagen within hair follicles.
Natural Sources: Natural sources of Vitamin C include all citrus fruits, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, potatoes, spinach, green peas, cantaloupe and strawberries.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA for Vitamin C is 90 mg daily for men and 75 mg daily for women, with higher intake during pregnancy and lactation.
Excess Intake Risks: Excess Vitamin C intake does not generally cause toxicity, but can result in gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, headaches and rarely kidney stones. Most excess Vitamin C is excreted unmetabolized in the urine.
Vitamin E is best known for its role as an antioxidant and ability to reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a role in many disease states and occurs naturally in the body as well as externally from environmental factors. While its direct role in hair growth is poorly characterized, adequate intake of Vitamin E is beneficial and important for overall health.
Natural Sources: Natural sources of Vitamin E include wheat germ oil, avocados, almonds, mangos, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, bell peppers, fish and some meats. However, rather large quantities of these foods would be required to satisfy daily needs, such as five avocados or ten mangos daily, so oral supplements are a simpler method of maintaining adequate daily intake.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA for Vitamin E is 15 mg (22.5 IU) daily for men and women.
Excess Intake Risks: Toxic doses of Vitamin E begin at 20 times the RDA and may produce symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, tiredness, dizziness, blurred vision and headache.
Folic Acid is a B vitamin and is one of the few vitamins that have a very specific potential benefit for hair growth in that it helps regulate keratin production, which is the primary protein of the hair shaft. A deficiency of Folic Acid may lead to thinning of the hair shafts as well as overall hair loss. However, there is little evidence that Folic Acid supplementation produces clinical benefits in most patients with hair loss. Individuals at greater risk of Folic Acid deficiency include those with alcohol use disorder, pregnant women, and those with malabsorptive disorders.
Natural Sources: Natural sources of Folic Acid include vegetables (especially dark green leafy vegetables), fruits and fruit juices, nuts, beans, peas, seafood, eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, and grains. Spinach, liver, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts are among the foods with the highest folate levels.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA of Folic Acid is 400 mcg for both men and women, with higher intake during pregnancy and lactation.
Excess Intake Risks: Excess folic acid is excreted in urine. A high folate intake can mask vitamin B-12 deficiency until its neurological effects become irreversible. Other rare side effects include stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, irritability, confusion, behavior changes, skin reactions and seizures.
The most common nutritional deficiency in the world is iron deficiency, and iron deficiency is common in women with hair loss. However, the association between hair loss and low serum ferritin levels remains controversial. While testing for and correcting iron deficiency is always prudent, significant improvement in hair loss in these individuals cannot be assured.
Natural Sources: Iron is found in many natural sources, including meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, grains, and more.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA for all age groups of men and postmenopausal women is 8 mg/day; the RDA for premenopausal women is 18 mg/day.
Excess Intake Risks: The upper limit for safe iron intake is 45 mg per day for adults. Excess iron is deposited in organs throughout the body and can cause organ damage due to the formation of reactive oxygen species. The liver, heart and endocrine glands are the most notable organs with iron deposition. Extremely high doses can cause organ failure, coma, convulsions and death.
Magnesium is a mineral that plays a role in the functioning of enzymes involved in DNA and RNA synthesis, as well as in cell replication. Thus, it helps support normal hair shaft growth. Magnesium is also involved in the production of proteins including keratin, the primary component of the hair shaft. While magnesium deficiency is suspected as playing a role in hair loss and some forms of gray hair, strong evidence is lacking. Most people get enough magnesium from their diet and do not need to take supplements.
Natural Sources: Magnesium is found in many plant and animal foods, including bananas, leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans, soy products, seafood and dairy.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA of magnesium for adults is 400-420 mg per day for men and 310-320 mg per day for women.
Excess Intake Risks: Magnesium toxicity is rare with symptoms including irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma and death.
Zinc is an essential trace element, and severe zinc deficiency is associated with hair loss in infants with poor nutrition, malabsorption conditions, alcohol use disorder and pregnancy. The role of zinc in most forms of hair loss is poorly established, and supplements do not reliably result in hair growth in most individuals.
Natural Sources: Natural sources of zinc include oysters, meat, eggs, fish, nuts and dark chocolate.
Recommended Daily Intake: The RDA for adults is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men.
Excess Intake Risks: Excess zinc intake symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and headaches.
Proteins in general and collagen in particular are important for the growth of all skin and hair structures. A healthy and varied diet provides the body with all it needs to produce these proteins.
Omega-3 fatty acids are best known for benefiting heart health, may indirectly improve scalp circulation, and assist hair follicle nutrition. Little scientific data exists demonstrating direct benefits to hair growth.
Selenium is another essential trace element associated with hair loss in very specific situations of poor nutrition. Deficiency has also been associated with reversible gray hair development and supplementation benefitted hair growth in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The availability of selenium in a variety of foods, such as meat, vegetables, and nuts, is sufficient to meet the daily requirement. Excessive intake of selenium can lead to increased hair loss.
Pantothenic acid (B5) is part of the B complex of vitamins that aids in cell metabolism. Deficiency of this vitamin has not been associated with hair loss.
Choosing an OTC hair growth supplement can be overwhelming, so it helps to focus on quality, ingredients and personal needs. Patterson recommends using a supplement that includes nutrients known to support hair health, but emphasizes that dosage can vary depending on individual deficiencies. A dermatologist can help determine the right formula and dose through lab testing.
Patterson recommends using a supplement that has been tested by a third party, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) or ConsumerLab. She also recommends checking that ingredient amounts align with the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) from trusted sources like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements. Given the lack of regulation in supplements, choosing well-rated brands can provide more confidence in what you're getting.
While many over-the-counter supplements are widely available, they are not suitable for everyone, and in some cases, they can interfere with medications or health conditions.
Pregnancy is typically a high estrogen state, which naturally supports hair growth. “Many pregnant people do not need additional hair-growth supplements outside of a daily multivitamin containing folate,” says Patterson. Those with thyroid disorders should avoid taking iron, zinc, calcium or magnesium within four hours of thyroid medication.
Patience is key when using over-the-counter hair growth supplements. "Most supplements suggest a time frame of three to six months, in order for a hair growth cycle to be completed to assess if there’s improvement,” says Lindsay-Adler.
If hair thinning is due to iron deficiency, she says it may take around two to four months to start seeing changes, and noticeable improvements in texture or thickness may take six months to a year with consistent use.
Vitamin supplements are only part of the answer. Genetics, hormone imbalance and stress can all lead to hair loss. Vitamin supplements will only go so far and should not be considered miracle workers for things like male pattern baldness.
Aside from taking the right vitamins, there are a few other things you can do to help your hair. Eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables will provide you with the nutrition you need for your hair to grow.
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