I found this article on www.alive.com, which is the homepage of a health magazine.
What supplements are effective for hair loss or brittle hair?
There are several nutrients that could potentially help with hair loss and
brittleness. Lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) often contributes to dry,
listless hair, so ensure you get enough. Good food sources of EFAs include
walnuts, eggs, fish, olive oil, flax seeds and flax oil. I also recommend a
formula that contains both omega-3 fatty acids from flax or fish oil and
omega-6 fatty acids from evening primrose or borage oil.
It can take four to six weeks to see improvements.
Biotin is a nutrient used to improveboth nail and hair quality (particularly
brittle hair). Food sources include brewer’s yeast, soy beans, eggs,
mushrooms and whole wheat. For therapeutic use, I recommend 2,000 to 3,000
micrograms daily for at least two months.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a valuable supplement for the hair. It is a
great source of sulphur, which is an integral component of amino acids, the
building blocks of hair protein. Green vegetables are a natural source of
MSM. People commonly report that MSM supplements improve the strength and
sheen of their hair. In one double-blind study, people supplementing 3,000
mg of MSM daily experienced significant improvements in hair health, while
those on placebo showed few or no changes.
Saw palmetto is a herb historically used by herbalists in Europe and North
America for hair loss in both sexes. A 2002 study in The Journal of
Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that a product containing saw
palmetto and a plant compound called beta-sitosterol (also found in saw
palmetto and other plants) may increase hair growth in men. A therapeutic
dosage of saw palmetto would be 320 to 400 mg daily or an 85 per cent
liposterolic extract taken daily.
Please keep in mind that poor digestion and malabsorption can be underlying
reasons for nutritional deficiencies and hair loss or poor hair quality. I
recommend patients take full-spectrum digestive enzymes with meals and in
some cases, especially with the elderly, the use of betaine hydrochloric
acid capsules with meals to improve digestion.
Mark Stengler, ND
What supplements are effective for hair loss or brittle hair?
There are several nutrients that could potentially help with hair loss and
brittleness. Lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) often contributes to dry,
listless hair, so ensure you get enough. Good food sources of EFAs include
walnuts, eggs, fish, olive oil, flax seeds and flax oil. I also recommend a
formula that contains both omega-3 fatty acids from flax or fish oil and
omega-6 fatty acids from evening primrose or borage oil.
It can take four to six weeks to see improvements.
Biotin is a nutrient used to improveboth nail and hair quality (particularly
brittle hair). Food sources include brewer’s yeast, soy beans, eggs,
mushrooms and whole wheat. For therapeutic use, I recommend 2,000 to 3,000
micrograms daily for at least two months.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a valuable supplement for the hair. It is a
great source of sulphur, which is an integral component of amino acids, the
building blocks of hair protein. Green vegetables are a natural source of
MSM. People commonly report that MSM supplements improve the strength and
sheen of their hair. In one double-blind study, people supplementing 3,000
mg of MSM daily experienced significant improvements in hair health, while
those on placebo showed few or no changes.
Saw palmetto is a herb historically used by herbalists in Europe and North
America for hair loss in both sexes. A 2002 study in The Journal of
Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that a product containing saw
palmetto and a plant compound called beta-sitosterol (also found in saw
palmetto and other plants) may increase hair growth in men. A therapeutic
dosage of saw palmetto would be 320 to 400 mg daily or an 85 per cent
liposterolic extract taken daily.
Please keep in mind that poor digestion and malabsorption can be underlying
reasons for nutritional deficiencies and hair loss or poor hair quality. I
recommend patients take full-spectrum digestive enzymes with meals and in
some cases, especially with the elderly, the use of betaine hydrochloric
acid capsules with meals to improve digestion.
Mark Stengler, ND
