The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss

Telogen Effluvium: A Review

“…There are ongoing controversies for low serum ferritin levels to be designated as nutritional deficiency triggering hair loss [18]. In order to reverse severe hair loss some authors suggest serum ferritin level should be maintained above 40ng/dl [17] or 70ng/dl [19]. Adequate dietary intake and oral administration of ferrous sulfate 300mg three to four times a day is an effective, initial therapy [20].…”

Androgenetic Alopecia: A Chronic or Pubertal Onset Disease Retarded by Blood Donation

“…female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, alopecia universal [12][13][14][15][16][17], however some researchers denied such claims [18][19][20][21][22]. Clinically iron deficiency is defined either as an increase in total iron binding capacity tion of ferritin under 40 ng/mL [23][24][25].…”

Telogen Effluvium

“…The hair loss can be reversed with the iron supplementation. Iron deficiency without anemia is more controversial, as it has a potential relationship with CDTHL [20]. In the majority of cases, drug-induced CDTHL occurs mechanistically via the immediate anagen release [19].…”

“…To date, studies investigating the relationship between serum ferritin levels and TE have shown controversial results [20,[25][26][27].…”

“…Iron supplementation is recommended for TE patients who have had a serum ferritin level less than 70 ng per milliliter [20]. However, the effects of iron supplementation for TE have not been extensively investigated in controlled trials.…”