Improvement in Hair Loss and Better Hair Quality with Vitamin Therapy in Monilethrix

Abstract

Monilethrix or beaded results from a genetic abnormality of defective hair shaft formation. The altered genetics leads to improper, inefficient, incorporation of structural proteins, minerals during hair shaft formation resulting in weak, brittle hair. Other hair shaft disorders like pili torti, pili trianguli, trichorrhexis nodosa, trichorrhexis invaginata and pili annulati, rolled hair and circular hair are reported to be associated with vitamin, mineral, amino acid deficiencies. The nutritional etiology can be recognized as a common thread. Combined nutritional deficiencies can lead to occurrence of more than one hair shaft disorder in the same patient. Hair shaft disorders are also diagnostic of certain mineral deficiencies. Temporary benefit in hair shaft disorders has been reported with the use of minoxidil 2%, acitretin, retinoids, N-acetyl cysteine and iron supplementation. The genetic disorder may not be amiable to correction, however nutritional deficiencies or imbalance can be corrected to produce hair of better strength and better quality. We report improvement of hair shaft structure and reduced hair breakage in case of Monilethrix with use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and suggest that nutritional correction can offer relief to patients with hair shaft disorders with the understanding that it will be a better hair care though not a cure. The program delivers wellness, good health as well as hair growth without use of any oral medication and without the fear of side effects.

Controlled clinical trial for evaluation of hair growth with low dose cyclical nutrition therapy in men and women without the use of finasteride

“…Minoxidil stimulates hair growth and the addition of nutrients provides building blocks to ensure the sudden rapid cell division required at the initiation of anagen. Antioxidants provide a toxin free cellular environment which favours hair growth [24,25,[72][73][74] . Use of different nutrients on different days prevents inter nutrient interactions and improves efficiency [75,76] .…”

A Scientific Hypothesis on the Role of Nutritional Supplements for Effective Management of Hair Loss and Promoting Hair Regrowth

“…Use of ten nutrients is distributed over three days in a repeating cycle. The approach has been found to be beneficial in hair loss management and achieving new hair growth in various indications [46,53,[101][102][103][104][105]. A clinical trial with 100 patients in each group, having a control group and treatment group comparing 2% minoxidil plus finasteride in men and only 2% minoxidil in women has been published earlier [106].…”

Controversy on the role of iron and a clinical trial with intermittent iron and nutritional supplements in hair loss management

“…The approach also avoids possibility of overdose and can be followed for a longer period of time. Hair loss under a variety of indications and causes has been treated with this cyclical nutrition therapy (70,71,72,73,74,75).…”