872 Evaluation of physiological, psychological, and lifestyle factors associated with premature hair graying

Abstract

Hair graying is believed to be driven by the cytotoxic effect of reactive oxygen species on follicular melanocytes, thus raising the concern that premature hair graying (PHG) may be an outward sign of systemic oxidative stress. We performed a cross-sectional, case-control study to examine factors associated with PHG. Data from 467 participants (F= 354, M= 113; ages 18 to 77) was collected, including demographics, medical history, family history, substance use, diet, exercise, and supplement use and analyzed by SPSS-25 software. PHG (graying at age ≤30) was found to be significantly associated with history of PHG in the mother, p<0.001, odds ratio [OR]=3.165; father, p<0.001, OR=5.166; maternal grandparent, p=0.002, OR=2.442; paternal grandparent, p=0.007, OR=2.369; and siblings, p<0.001, OR=3.125. PHG was significantly associated with iron deficiency (p=0.026, OR=1.751) and family history of depression (p=0.012, OR=1.603), while HSV infection (p=0.004, OR=0.367) and smoking history (p=0.003) demonstrated significant negative association. In Caucasian participants (n=306), in addition to these trends, irritable bowel syndrome was also significantly associated with PHG (p=0.010, OR=2.753). In Asian participants (n=75), only history of heart disease in a 1st degree relative (p=0.038) and family history of PHG in the father (p=0.001, OR=6.084) and siblings (p=0.015, OR=6.167) were significantly associated. Biotin supplementation was significantly associated with PHG in men (p=0.049), while fish oil/omega-3 fatty acids demonstrated a significant negative association with PHG in women (p=0.046, OR=0.489). In participants age ≤30, in addition to family history of PHG, history of influenza infection (p=0.023, OR=1.909) was significantly associated with PHG and intake of fish oil/omega-3 fatty acids was negatively associated (p=0.008, OR=0.201). Important associations exist between PHG and family history of PHG, psychiatric history, supplement use, and vitamin deficiencies, providing insight into the pathogenesis and potential comorbidities of PHG.