Iron

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, which can contribute to hair loss (9,10). The serum ferritin is a good indicator of total body iron stores and a reliable marker for iron storage deficiency (<30 μg/L). Ferritin also can be used as an indicator in hair loss studies (11,12). In healthy premenopausal women, menstruation is the biggest cause of iron deficiency (13). Patients with iron deficiency require iron supplementation. Additionally, amino acids have essential roles in maintaining normal serum ferritin concentration and hence hair growth. L-lysine is one of the amino acids which can be found in fish, meat, and eggs. Adding L-lysine (1.5–2 g/day) to the existing iron supplementation regimen of iron-deficient patients can result in a significant increase in ferritin levels.

Studies have shown that iron has an important role in normal hair growth by regulating the expression of hair follicle genes. These iron-dependent processes can be disrupted in iron deficiency, affecting the normal progression of the hair cycle (1).

Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace element required for the synthesis of more than 35 proteins. Glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme, depends on selenium as a co-factor. A clinical trial in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy showed a significant decrease in hair loss after selenium supplementation (7,14).

The recommended dietary daily intake of selenium is 55 μg for adults. Such foods as meat, vegetables, and nuts can fulfill the daily requirements of selenium. People who consume more than 400 μg of selenium per day can develop toxicity with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, nail brittleness and discoloration, hair loss, fatigue, irritability, and foul breath (15,16,16).

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral, which our body cannot generate on its own and we must take it through our diet. Fish and meat are the main sources of zinc. Zinc deficiency is common in vegetarians, vegans, and people who consume mostly cereal grains with poor meat intake, and also infants on milk formula. Other causes of zinc deficiency include anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder), inflammatory bowel disease, jejunal bypass surgery, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, malignancy, burns, infection, and pregnancy.

Hair loss is a well-known sign of zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation can help with hair regrowth (1,7,16,17).

Calcium

Calcium contributes to normal cellular function and signalling. Vitamin D supports calcium absorption, but there is limited evidence that calcium supplements alone improve hair growth. (16, 18).

Magnesium

Magnesium is responsible for over 700 metabolic functions in our body, including the hair growth cycle. In this regard, magnesium has two main functions: preventing calcium accumulation and protein synthesis for hair loss and healthy hair growth.

Magnesium is involved in normal cellular functions, including protein synthesis. There is currently limited evidence that scalp calcium deposits cause common hair loss or that magnesium supplementation prevents such hair loss.

Magnesium contributes to normal protein synthesis, a fundamental biological process. However, direct evidence that taking additional magnesium prevents greying or restores hair growth in people without a deficiency is limited.

Daily usage of magnesium for males is about 400 mg and for women at least 310 mg.  Foods high in fiber usually have high magnesium such as beans, seeds, rice, seafood, dark leafy greens, dark chocolate, and nuts. High-fat diet reduces the absorption of magnesium, and cooking reduces the magnesium content in food.

Magnesium is one of the most important nutrients for healthy hair growth. That’s why we used magnesium in our products. Without it, your hair follicles may not grow to their full potential because of calcification and poor protein synthesis. Evidence that topical magnesium is reliably absorbed through the skin or improves hair growth is limited. The topical use of magnesium on the scalp is beneficial for the prevention and treatment of skin irritations and conditions caused by sweat, product build-up, and excess sebum (1,8,18).

Copper

Copper is an essential trace mineral involved in enzyme activity and connective-tissue biology. Copper peptides are being studied for potential roles in skin and hair biology, but robust clinical evidence for reversing androgenetic alopecia is limited. Copper also interacts with zinc in normal antioxidant enzyme function. Nutritional deficiencies may affect hair health. (1, 2, 19, 20).