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 | What vitamins and minerals are good for dry hair? |
|  Several different vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause dry hair. To treat dry hair, try taking a multivitamin with 100 percent of the daily value of the essential vitamins. A multivitamin and mineral combination may provide some added coverage for possible deficiencies. It's been shown that too little biotin and pantothenic acid (both B-complex vitamins) can lead to dry hair. Shampoos and hair treatment products commonly contain pantothenic acid (or pantothenol). But evidence supporting the benefits of pantothenic acid for dry hair and hair loss is very weak. Also, some people with hair loss do show low blood levels of biotin. While the evidence isn't strong, it may be worth it to try taking supplements of biotin and pantothenic acid for bothersome hair conditions that are not helped by hair treatment products. The safest bet would be to try shampoos which contain these supplements such as Kiehl's or Jason Shampoo.Pantothenic acid supplements are available in doses of 100 to 500 mg. Normal intake for adults is 4mg to 7mg daily. To treat hair problems, adults can take 200 mg daily. Biotin supplements are available in doses of 30 to 100 mcg. The suggested dose for adults is 60 mcg daily.Sources:Silverman, H.M., J.A. Romano, G. Elmer. The Vitamin Book: A No-nonsense Consumer Guide. Bantam Books, 1999.Forbes, G.M, A. Forbes. "Micronutrient Status in Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition," Nutrition 13 (1997).Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Avery Publishing Group, 1997.Silverman, H.M., J.A. Romano, G. Elmer. The Vitamin Book. Bantam Books, 1999.Habif, Thomas. Clinical Dermatology. Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1996.Drugs and Supplements, "Biotin (Systemic)." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/2/2007.Drugs and Supplements, "Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) (Systemic)." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/2/2007.This answer prepared 7/25/2000.This information updated 1/2/2007. |
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