Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth

There are many women who believe that it is beneficial to use prenatal vitamins for hair growth. If you suffer from hair loss associated with child birth in the last 8 to 10 months, aging or perhaps it is a side effect of taking certain prescription medications, in order to evaluate the authenticity of this claim, we need to assess the ingredients found in prenatal vitamin supplements and their actions on the body.

What is the Difference in Between Prenatal and Regular Vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins contain slightly less vitamin A and significantly more calcium, folic acid and iron, none of which are relevant to hair growth.

The reason why pregnant women as well as women who are trying to get pregnant are advised to take prenatal vitamins is to ensure that both the mother and the developing baby obtain adequate nutrition. The amount of vitamins and minerals contained in prenatal vitamin supplements are completely different from regular nutritional supplements, since they are specifically designed for the nutritional needs of a pregnant woman and her baby in order to prevent nutritional deficiencies, which can often lead to anemia, bone density loss, developmental abnormalities, such as spina bifida, low birth weight or other pregnancy-related complications.

The Reason Why Pregnant Women Have Healthier Hair

It is well known that during pregnancy, a woman’s estrogen levels will be higher than usual, which will prevent hair loss. Adults typically lose around 80 to 120 hairs every day. However, because during pregnancy hairs tend to stay in the so called “resting phase”, a pregnant woman’s hair will appear much thicker than usual. This natural body change will occur with or without taking prenatal vitamins, since it is only associated with the increased hormone levels and not the nutritional supplements that may be used.

Is it Beneficial to Take Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth?

If you suffer from hair loss caused by anemia, taking extra iron would be definitely beneficial and in fact it should correct not only your blood hemoglobin levels, but also your hair loss. On the other hand, taking extra iron when you are not anemic would be harmful for your health, since the excessive consumption of iron could lead to the development of gastrointestinal disorders, or  can even be life threatening.

Since the liver can only convert a small amount of folic acid into folate every day, taking more folic acid than your body needs can potentially lead to liver disease. Folic acid over consumption is also linked to the development of cancer.

Our bodies need calcium to preserve healthy bone density and to regulate muscle and nerve functions. However, the over consumption of calcium can lead to irritability, depression, loss of appetite, fatigue, a metallic taste in the mouth, dry mouth, increased thirst or long lasting headaches.

Additional Considerations

Although hair growth is primarily determined by your hormones and your genes, by eating healthily you can influence your body’s hormone regulation and production, thus you can make a significant impact on the health of your scalp hair follicles, where hair fibers are produced. In fact, regulating your body’s healthy hormone production – naturally and holistically by dieting – will not only improve the quality and beauty of your hair, but it will also cure or prevent a number of hormonally induced medical conditions, such as acne, ovarian cysts and others.

Tags: hair growth, prenatal vitamins, prenatal vitamins for hair growth

Category: Beauty, Body, Hair Loss