Calcium
Calcium is a vital mineral that the human body requires in significant quantities. It plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, such as enabling muscle movement, facilitating nerve signal transmission, supporting blood circulation through our blood vessels, and regulating hormone release that impacts numerous other functions. Most of the calcium in our bodies is stored in our bones and teeth, providing them with their characteristic white appearance and hardness.
Calcium supplements are commonly used to prevent deficiencies, alleviate muscle cramps, combat osteoporosis, and strengthen bones. It’s also employed in the management of conditions like high blood pressure, cancer, and stroke.
In the context of alopecia, calcium is not a widely recognized or utilized remedy. You won’t typically find hair supplements or shampoos containing calcium specifically for hair loss treatment. Nevertheless, calcium is a component of many multivitamin supplements that may indirectly benefit hair health.
Does it work for hair loss?
This article delves into the use of calcium as a treatment for hair loss, distinct from the unrelated topic of calcification.
As of now, we possess limited information regarding the relationship between calcium and hair loss. From my research, we can construct the following diagram:
Calcium deficiency and its connection to hair loss
To begin, it’s important to stress that deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can potentially contribute to or worsen hair loss. When we delve into our research, we often come across information suggesting that a lack of calcium may trigger alopecia. Although I haven’t come across any studies that definitively support this idea, I don’t believe it should be dismissed entirely.
In an analysis of various studies, Yi Liu and colleagues aimed to explore the relationship between serum vitamin D levels, calcium, and alopecia. Their findings indicated that hair loss is generally more associated with a deficiency in vitamin D than with calcium.
It’s essential to keep in mind that the human body functions in a highly complex manner, and the absence of a calcium deficiency doesn’t necessarily signify optimal health.
For instance, calcium absorption is partially dependent on vitamin D. When vitamin D is lacking, the body struggles to absorb not only calcium but also magnesium and phosphate. Consequently, if there’s a shortage of vitamin D, it’s highly probable that deficiencies in calcium and other vitamins and minerals could coexist.
Calcium, in its turn, plays a role in improving the absorption of iron, a vital mineral for both blood health and the health of our hair. Iron deficiency is known to be linked to hair loss.
Moreover, when the body doesn’t receive adequate nutrients from our diet, it will tap into its reserves. Some compounds have limited reserves that deplete quickly, but this isn’t the case with calcium, as the body stores it in substantial quantities in our bones and teeth. This means it can tap into these reserves for an extended period before a calcium deficiency becomes noticeable.
If the body starts using up its calcium reserves, it also implies that it will divert and draw calcium from our hair. It’s worth noting that calcium is crucial for our hair, given that the concentration of calcium in hair is around 200 times higher than that in our blood (source).
By the way, depleting calcium reserves is also a phenomenon observed in cases of acidosis (an excess of body acidity), which I explain in detail in my program.
Will calcium intake prevent hair loss?
If you’re pondering the question of whether taking calcium supplements will stave off hair loss, my response would be no. Unless you have a calcium deficiency, adding extra calcium to your regimen is unlikely to have any significant impact on your hair.
The reality is that there’s no scientific evidence or anecdotal reports suggesting any particular hair loss prevention benefits from calcium supplementation. Moreover, the majority of individuals already obtain an adequate amount of calcium from their diet, yet this doesn’t halt the occurrence of hair loss.
Closing thoughts and verdict
As with any other nutrient deficiencies, I strongly advise you to ensure you have an adequate intake of calcium. Incorporate dairy products like yogurt and cheese into your diet, particularly if you’re a smoker, as they tend to absorb less calcium and might need supplements.
However, if you’re not deficient in calcium, taking calcium supplements won’t provide any significant benefit in preventing hair loss. In such cases, I recommend exploring alternative treatments.
Precautions & side effects
- Possibility of allergic reaction in some individuals.
- High doses of calcium can lead to severe side effects: never exceed the tolerable limit of 2500mg per day (2000mg for individuals aged 50 and older).
- Caution for pregnant and breastfeeding women, do not exceed the recommended dose.
- Calcium should be avoided if you have a condition that causes high calcium levels.
- In individuals with kidney disorders, taking calcium supplements can excessively elevate calcium levels.
- Taking calcium supplements for 5 years or more may increase the risk of developing dementia in individuals who have had a stroke. Additional research is needed to determine whether calcium supplements should be avoided after a stroke.