Effect of zinc, ferritin, and vitamin B12 deficiency on hair loss in pregnant women

Abstract

Diffuse hair loss affects around 50% of women during their lives. Vitamins play an important role in cell growth and their deficiency may cause diffuse hair loss. However, vitamin deficiency during pregnancy is common and can influence hair growth and quality. Herein, we investigate whether a possible relationship exists between Ferritin, Hemoglobin (Hb), TSH, Zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D levels and hair loss in women of various age groups and different pregnancy periods. Our retrospective study included 85 women among which 35 were healthy and between 17-48 years, and 50 were pregnant with chronic diffuse hair loss and between17-48 years. Pregnant women were equally divided according to their month of gestation: Months 1-3 and Months 4-9. The aforementioned vitamins’ records were obtained from all participants. Pregnant women with severe hair loss during their last two trimesters had significantly lower zinc, hemoglobin, PCV, ferritin, and vitamin B12 levels, while there was no significant difference in their vitamin D and TSH levels when compared to non-pregnant women. Pregnant women with diffuse hair loss in their first trimester showed only a significant decrease in TSH level in pregnant women in their first trimester when compared to the other two groups.