Table 3.
Trace elements for androgenic alopecia
| Iron | Iron deficiency, which contributes to androgenetic alopecia (AGA), telogen effluvium [33]. Iron deficiency is mainly linked with women pattern hair loss [34]. Trost et al. [35] and Pierre et al. [36] has been reviewed about the deficiency of iron in male pattern baldness [37]. The recommended oral daily dose for the treatment of iron deficiency in adults is in the range of 150–200 mg/day of elemental iron |
| Zinc | Alopecia is an eminent sign of established zinc deficiency with hair regrowth occurring with zinc supplementation [38]. One case report with a patient having dry brittle hair and alopecia due to zinc deficiency but the improvement was seen in alopecia following oral zinc therapy [39]. Kil et al. [40] described the correlation between hair loss and deficiency of zing oral supplements in the case of telogen effluvium and male pattern hair loss. Zinc acts as a hair growth modulator and immunomodulator as DNA polymerase is zinc-dependent and zinc acts in multiple aspects of T-lymphocyte activation, signal transduction, and cellular apoptosis [41]. Zinc sulphate in a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for 3 months in patients with alopecia areata |
| Selenium | This supplement plays a key role to prevent oxidative damage and also hair follicle morphogenesis. Bates et al. [42] reported that selenium supplements improved scattered hair growth. The recommended daily intake dose is 25–50 mcg. Hairgro Forte Tablet is a marketed formulation for treating hair loss. It contains Folic Acid, Biotin, Iron, Calcium Pantothenate, Acetylcysteine, Zinc, and Copper |
| Antioxidants | Antioxidants play a key role to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to preventing oxidative damage. Many substances can be classified as antioxidants, including zinc, selenium, and vitamins A and E. Oxidative stress has been linked to hair loss. In vitro studies of dermal papilla cells from male AGA, patients concluded that oxidative stress plays a role in the balding phenotype and development of androgenetic alopecia [43] |