Efficacy of Oral Vitamin D₃ Therapy in Patients Suffering from Diffuse Hair Loss (Telogen Effluvium)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of telogen effl uvium (TE) and to evaluate the effi cacy of vitamin D in the treatment of this problem in women belonging to various cities of south Punjab, Pakistan. In the present study, 40 adult women suffering from the problem of TE were included. Each woman was treated with oral vitamin D 3 (200,000 IU) therapy fortnightly and a total of 6 doses were given to each patient. After 15 d of the last dose, the condition of patients was assessed clinically. The mean age of female patients was 32.2Ϯ1.5 y, 42.5% of the patients between 21-30 y of age were found to be more frequently affected with TE compared to 35% females of 31-40 y of age. Results showed signifi cant improvement in hair growth in young (rϭ0.457 pϽ 0.003) women and in those, which do not use sunscreen (rϭϪ0.331 pϽ 0.037) but commonly utilize milk or milk protein (rϭϪ0.311 pϽ0.051). Vitamin D3 therapy resulted in the improvement of the condition in 82.5% (pϽ0.001) patients of TE. The use of oral vitamin D3 (200,000 IU, fortnightly) for 3 mo resulted in signifi cant improvement in hair regrowth in the patient of TE. Results showed improvement in hair growth in young women those do not use sunscreen but commonly utilize milk or milk protein.

Management of hair loss after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: Insight into the pathophysiology with implication for better management

“…An additional survey on TE and treatment using search string 3 identified 11 papers (Table 1 ). 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 Currently, no established treatments or guidelines on TE treatment are available. 23 Various studies on treatment have been conducted.…”

“… 23 Various studies on treatment have been conducted. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 The most common treatment was oral minoxidil (Table 3 ). 28 , 29 , 30 Literature reviews of 17 studies with 634 patients receiving oral minoxidil as the primary treatment for hair loss indicated that oral minoxidil was an effective and well‐tolerated primary medication to treat not only AGA but also other types of alopecia, including TE and AA with only minor adverse events.…”

“…Besides minoxidil, promise of various therapeutic approaches, including biotin 31 or iron 32 supplementation, growth factors vacuolated through iontophoresis, 33 antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory shampoo and lotion, 34 vitamin D 3 intake, 35 microneedles, 36 sandalwood, 37 and photobiostimulation combined with microinjection, 38 have been explored to treat TE. Other remedies, which was not retrieved by search string 3, including an oral formulation containing l‐cystine, thiamin, calcium d‐pantothenate, medicinal yeast, keratin and p‐aminobenzoic acid, may also be beneficial to improve TE; 43 however, current evidence levels are relatively low and high‐quality, specific, prospectively designed, randomized controlled trials are essential to establish their efficacy.…”

Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review

“…Ruiz‐Tagle et al recommended a weekly dose of 50 000 IU of cholecalciferol for 1–3 months followed by a maintenance daily dose of 800–2000 IU to avoid recurrences 14 . Sattar et al supplemented oral vitamin D3‐200 000 IU fortnightly for 3 months in patients with TE, resulting in significant improvement in hair regrowth 15 …”

“…14 Sattar et al supplemented oral vitamin D3-200 000 IU fortnightly for 3 months in patients with TE, resulting in significant improvement in hair regrowth. 15 Hence, it may be a prudent therapeutic strategy to measure vitamin D levels and supplement the same when deficient in patients of TE. 4,10,16 17 Zhao et al reported significant association between vitamin D levels and AA, FPHL, and male AGA.…”