Folic Acid and Hair: What Are the Benefits of This Essential Vitamin?

What is Folic Acid?

Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to the B vitamin group. It’s essential for many biological functions in our body, including DNA synthesis, cell division and red blood cell production (Bailey et al., 2015).

Naturally present in many foods, it can also be synthesised in supplement form. Its name comes from the Latin ‘folium’ meaning ‘leaf’, as it’s found in abundance in green leafy vegetables.

What Does Folic Acid Do for Your Hair?

Folic acid plays a fundamental role in hair health thanks to its multiple actions on cellular metabolism. This vitamin is particularly important for the growth and renewal of hair follicle cells, the structures responsible for hair production.

Folic Acid Plays an Essential Role in Hair Growth

Folic acid promotes cell division in hair follicles, enabling optimal hair growth. It plays an active role in synthesising the proteins needed to form keratin, the main component of hair. This action stimulates the production of new hair cells and helps maintain a healthy growth cycle (Finner, 2013).

A Key Nutrient for Hair Quality

A good intake of folic acid significantly improves hair quality. It strengthens the hair’s structure, gives it more shine and volume, and makes it more resistant to external damage. Hair benefits from better oxygenation thanks to the action of vitamin B9 on red blood cell production (Rushton, 2002).

A Shield Against Hair Ageing

Folic acid has antioxidant properties that protect hair cells against oxidative stress and free radicals. This protection slows hair ageing and helps prevent premature greying (Trüeb, 2016).

Is Folic Acid Effective Against Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, including nutrition. In this context, folic acid plays a specific role thanks to its essential function in the process of cell division and the development of hair tissue.

Folic acid supplementation can be beneficial when hair loss is linked to a nutritional deficiency. However, vitamin B9 is not a miracle solution for all types of hair loss. Its effectiveness remains limited if other factors are involved, such as genetics or hormonal imbalances (Guo and Katta, 2017).

Which Vitamin is Most Effective for Hair?

Although folic acid is essential for healthy hair, it’s not the only important vitamin. Hair needs a balanced cocktail of nutrients for optimal growth and maintenance.

Vitamin B8 (Biotin)

Biotin is considered the star vitamin for hair health. Its main role is the synthesis of keratin, an essential component of hair. It naturally strengthens hair structure, prevents breakage and improves shine. Without biotin, hair becomes brittle and fragile (Patel et al., 2017).

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Pantothenic acid is essential for hair follicle metabolism. It stimulates hair growth by supporting cell division at the roots. Its action on sebum production helps maintain a healthy scalp, an essential condition for strong hair (Finner, 2013).

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Niacin acts primarily on blood circulation in the scalp. By improving the irrigation of hair follicles, it optimises the supply of nutrients needed for hair growth. It also helps to reduce scalp irritation, which can disrupt hair growth (Almohanna et al., 2019).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential to the hair life cycle. It wakes up dormant hair follicles and stimulates the production of new hair. A lack of vitamin D can lead to thinning hair and loss of density (Lee et al., 2018).

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the hair’s natural shield. It protects hair follicles from external aggression and premature ageing. Its action on scalp microcirculation promotes optimal growth and maintains the vitality of existing hair (Ramadan et al., 2013).

How to Consume Folic Acid?

Folic acid can be obtained naturally through a balanced diet. The richest food sources include green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and cabbage, and pulses like lentils and chickpeas. This vitamin is also found in significant quantities in nuts, seeds, citrus fruits, eggs and liver (Institute of Medicine, 1998).

These foods should be eaten regularly for optimum absorption as part of a varied diet. In the UK, many breakfast cereals and some bread products are fortified with folic acid, providing an additional source of this vital nutrient.

Is Folic Acid Recommended After a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants are a lasting solution for those suffering from hair loss. This procedure restores the hair by removing hair follicles from areas where the hair is resistant to loss (the donor area) and reimplanting them in balding areas (the recipient area). This technique is particularly suitable for people suffering from androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss.

After the operation, the success of the transplant depends largely on the healing process and the ability of the transplanted follicles to produce new hair. This is where dietary supplements play a crucial role. Surgeons frequently recommend comprehensive nutritional supplementation to optimise post-operative results.

This usually takes the form of a balanced vitamin and mineral complex. The combination of folic acid with other essential nutrients such as biotin, keratin, selenium and B5 pantothenic acid creates a synergy that is particularly favourable to regrowth. This combination not only helps tissue healing, but also promotes growth and strengthening of new hair (Guo and Katta, 2017).

Post-transplant Care: What Are the Best Practices?

The success of a hair transplant depends largely on the quality of post-operative care. In the days following the operation, particular attention must be paid to scalp care. The specific washing protocol and the application of healing lotions must be scrupulously respected to optimise healing and promote graft implantation.

Taking food supplements is an essential part of the recovery process. A balanced intake of vitamins and minerals supports the growth of new hair and enhances its quality. The surgeon can then prescribe this nutritional supplementation.

Folic Acid and Hair: Key Facts

• Folic acid (vitamin B9) is an essential nutrient for hair health, stimulating cell renewal in hair follicles and synthesising keratin, a protein fundamental to hair structure (Bailey et al., 2015).
• Natural sources of folic acid are found mainly in green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale), pulses, nuts and citrus fruits, providing an optimal daily intake for healthy hair (Institute of Medicine, 1998).
• In the case of hair transplants, folic acid is an integral part of the post-operative protocol, contributing to the healing and regrowth of transplanted hair when combined with other essential vitamins (Guo and Katta, 2017).
• Although folic acid supplementation can be beneficial in certain cases, it is not a universal solution to hair loss. Its effectiveness depends on the underlying cause of hair loss (Finner, 2013).
• A professional diagnosis is essential before any supplementation to determine whether a folic acid deficiency is responsible for hair problems and adapt the treatment accordingly. In the UK, it’s advisable to consult with your GP or a registered trichologist for personalised advice.

Sources

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Bailey, L. B., Stover, P. J., McNulty, H., Fenech, M. F., Gregory, J. F., Mills, J. L., … & Berry, R. J. (2015). Biomarkers of nutrition for development—folate review. The Journal of Nutrition, 145(7), 1636S-1680S. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.114.206599

Finner, A. M. (2013). Nutrition and hair: deficiencies and supplements. Dermatologic Clinics, 31(1), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.det.2012.08.015

Guo, E. L., & Katta, R. (2017). Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 7(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0701a01

Institute of Medicine. (1998). Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. National Academies Press.

Lee, S., Kim, B. J., Lee, C. H., & Lee, W. S. (2018). Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 32(7), 1214-1221. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.14987

MacFarquhar, J. K., Broussard, D. L., Melstrom, P., Hutchinson, R., Wolkin, A., Martin, C., … & Jones, T. F. (2010). Acute selenium toxicity associated with a dietary supplement. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170(3), 256-261. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.495

Patel, D. P., Swink, S. M., & Castelo-Soccio, L. (2017). A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. Skin Appendage Disorders, 3(3), 166-169. https://doi.org/10.1159/000462981

Ramadan, R., Tawdy, A., Abdel Hay, R., Rashed, L., & Tawfik, D. (2013). The antioxidant role of paraoxonase 1 and vitamin E in three autoimmune diseases. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 26(1), 2-7. https://doi.org/10.1159/000342124

Rushton, D. H. (2002). Nutritional factors and hair loss. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 27(5), 396-404. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01076.x

Thompson, J. M., Mirza, M. A., Park, M. K., Qureshi, A. A., & Cho, E. (2016). The role of micronutrients in alopecia areata: A review. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 17(5), 559-568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0211-6

Trüeb, R. M. (2016). Serum biotin levels in women complaining of hair loss. International Journal of Trichology, 8(2), 73. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.188040