Zinc deficiency and hair loss

Can zinc deficiency cause hair loss?

 

 

 

Yes, if zinc deficiency is severe enough (meaning zinc levels are low enough), the deficiency can cause hair loss. Zinc deficiency is not all that common in the Western world but the odds of having zinc deficiency increases with the following:

1.  poor dietary intake of zinc containing foods

2. intestinal problems impairing absorption

3. pregnancy

4. alcohol use

5. intense physical training and exercise programs

6. chronic liver disease

7.  weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery)

Testing for Zn deficiency

If one is wondering about zinc defiency, a blood test can be done. The bigger challenge though is having someone knoweldgable interpret those results if low to determine if even relevant to hair loss or not.