Hair Loss and Gastrointestinal Issues: A Connection

Hair is an indicator to overall health. If hair is healthy, the body is healthy. If hair is brittle or even falling out, it can be a sign of poor health and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Gastrointestinal disease is a rare but major culprit of hair loss, especially for women.

Contributors to Hair Loss From Gastrointestinal Disease

• Iron loss from anemia is a major factor in hair loss. Oxygen deprivation is a side effect of anemia, and oxygen in the blood delivers nutrients to the hair follicles. Vitamin B7 (also known as Biotin) deficiency can also be a contributor to hair loss from gastrointestinal disease.

Connecting Hair Loss to Gastrointestinal Disease

• According to a "Prevention Magazine" article, hair loss is sometimes a side effect of gastrointestinal disease, and is correctable. In the article, nutritional medicine specialist Dr. Michael A. Klaper points out the gastrointestinal connection to hair loss, attributing it to a malabsorption of protein, zinc and other nutrients from insufficient stomach acids.

Crohn's Disease and Hair Loss

• Great Britain's Royal Society of Medicine reported a connection between Crohn's disease and hair loss. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease. Hair loss can be a result of an iron deficiency caused by malabsorption, one of the side effects of the disease.

Inflammation and Hair Follicles

• Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can impact vitamin absorption overall due to inflammation, which in turn can contribute to hair loss.

Deficiencies From Hair Loss and From Gastrointestinal Disease

• An increase in vitamins and minerals to replace deficiencies is recommended to aid hair regrowth. Iron tablets can correct deficiencies from anemia. In the "Prevention" article, Dr. Klaper also suggests 4 to 6 tablets daily of non-dairy acidophilus over a 2-month period as a remedy.