Expert: Peter J. Panagotacos, <B>M.D.</B> - 11/17/2008

Question
just received my ferritn level back and it is 35...what is the ideal ferritn level for hair growth?? I take iron and vitamin C now...how long would I have to take this before seeing a difference in my ferritn level and hair growth?? and lastly what are other ways for me to bring up my ferritn level??

Answer
Cheryl,
   I ask my patients to get their serum ferritin above 70.  There was a journal article six years ago which addressed this issue. It may take over six months to see normal growth AFTER getting the ferritin back up to normal range. If after two months of taking the supplemental dosage listed below I ask my patients to double it by taking it twice a day and if they have trouble with that then the next step is to see a gastroenterologist or hematologist to find out why you are not getting good absorption of the iron.

Here is an instruction sheet I give to my patients:

Note: Most Doctors and Labs list the normal range of Serum Ferritin as 10-230. If you are below 60, I want you to take Ferrous sulfate 325 MG. daily and Vitamin C 500 daily.


Clinical & Experimental Dermatology
Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 396 - July2002
Doi: 101046/j.1365-2230.2002.01076.xClinical dermatology*Review article Nutritional factors and hair loss D.H. Rushton




Summary The literature reveals what little is known about nutritional factors and hair loss. What we do know emanates from studies in protein-energy malnutrition, starvation and eating disorders. In otherwise healthy individuals, nutritional factors appear to play a role in subjects with persistent increase hair shedding. Hard, 40 years ago, demonstrated the importance of iron supplements in nonanaemic, iron-deficient women with hair loss.
Serum ferritin concentration provides a good assessment of an individual's iron status.
What level of serum ferritin to employ in subjects with increase hair shedding is yet to
Be definitively established but 70ug/L, with a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(<10 mm/h), is recommended. The role of the essential amino acid, 1-lysine in hair loss
also appears to be important. Double-blind data confirmed the finding of an open study
in women with increased hair shedding, where a significant proportion responded to
1-lysine and iron therapy. There is no evidence to support the popular view that low serum zinc concentrations cause hair loss. Excessive intakes of nutritional supplements
may actually cause hair loss and are not recommended in the absence of a proven deficiency. While nutritional factors affect the hair directly, one should not forget that
they also affect the skin. In the management of subjects with hair loss, eliminating scaling
problems is important as is good hair care advice and the need to explain fully the hair cycle. Many individuals reduced their shampooing frequency due to fear of losing more hair but this increases the amount seen in subsequent shampoos fueling their fear of going bald and adversely affecting their quality of life.