Biotin And Vitamin D: What Is Best For Hair Growth?

August 21, 2024 by Mani Pandey

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Can You Take Biotin and Vitamin D Together

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While there could be plenty of reasons for hair fall, lack of nutrition still holds the foremost place in the list. As the interest of people is shifting more towards junk and frozen food because they are convenient and easy, healthy foods are losing in the race. All this is leading to different health issues, among which hair fall is one.

Article Contains

Biotin
Benefits
Vitamin D
What’s Better for Hair Loss Biotin or Vitamin D?

A well-balanced and nutritionally rich diet is essential to combat hair fall. Two nutrients that work wonders for hair are Biotin and Vitamin D. However, knowing which will be better among them is essential.

This article will compare Biotin vs Vitamin D and what’s better to manage hair loss.

Biotin

Biotin (1) or Vitamin B7 is a water-soluble vitamin. It is necessary to form fatty acids and glucose which are then used by the body as a fuel. The presence of biotin helps the body to metabolize proteins, carbs and fats.

Besides, this vitamin helps supplement keratin, an essential protein for hair, skin, and nails. Even though the lack of biotin (2) in the body is rare, when it happens, it leads to the following-

Skin rash
Hair loss
High cholesterol
Heart ailments

People suffering from alopecia are recommended biotin supplements to combat the issue.

Benefits

A regular intake of biotin supplements helps in the following ways-

Increased hair thickness
Enhanced hair volume
Scalp coverage

Vitamin D

Vitamin D (3) is another essential vitamin that protects the body from many ailments. It helps absorb calcium and phosphorus, which keeps the bone healthy and strong. At the same time, vitamin D performs the following functions-

Keeps brain, liver, and heart healthy
Strengthens hair, teeth, and bones
Regulates insulin levels

Vitamin D helps keep hair follicles healthy and promotes their function. Moreover, it stimulates hair follicles to enter the growth stage of the hair cycle and thus promotes healthy growth.
When the body lacks Vitamin D (4), it can lead to the following hair conditions-

Alopecia areata
Androgenetic alopecia
Telogen effluvium

Below is the table differentiating biotin and vitamin D under different heads to clarify what is better for managing hair loss-

Aspect	Biotin	Vitamin D
Function	Essential for maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails.	Supports the growth and maintenance of healthy hair follicles.
Role in Hair Loss	Helps in the production of keratin, a key protein in hair structure. Deficiency may lead to hair loss.	Plays a role in the regulation of hair follicle cycling and hair growth. Insufficient levels may contribute to hair loss.
Deficiency Symptoms	Hair thinning, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin.	Hair thinning, hair loss, weakened hair structure.
Dietary Sources	Eggs, nuts, seeds, whole grains, liver, spinach.	Fatty fish (salmon, tuna), fortified foods (milk, orange juice), eggs, mushrooms.
Recommended Intake	Adults: 30-100 mcg/day	Adults: 600-800 IU/day
Overdose Risk	Generally considered safe in recommended doses, excess biotin is excreted in urine.	Excessive intake may lead to toxicity, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weakness.
Interactions	May interfere with certain laboratory tests, including thyroid function tests.	Interacts with certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids, weight loss drugs) and may affect their efficacy.
Research Evidence	Limited studies support its efficacy in treating hair loss, often combined with other nutrients.	Emerging research suggests a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss, but more studies are needed to establish causation.

What’s Better for Hair Loss Biotin or Vitamin D?

While both these vitamins are essential for hair growth, it is important to get a detailed medical history of the person before choosing between the two. If the body shows a lack of biotin, its supplements can be administered. Likewise, Vitamin D supplements are given to patients who have a deficiency in it.

Besides these supplements, the doctor may prescribe medications like minoxidil and finasteride to help combat hair loss and promote hair growth.

Here, it is important to mention that these supplements alone are not full-proof remedies for hair loss. These are used as add-ons along with hair growth medications to fulfil the nutritional demand of the body.

Conclusion

Weighing biotin and vitamin D on the basis of their properties, we can conclude that while biotin helps in keratin production, a protein essential for hair and Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles and trigger them to come to growth stage fast.

Thus, biotin reduces hair loss by making them strong with keratin, Vitamin D promotes new hair growth. Therefore, both of them are equally important. Eating a nutritionally well-balanced diet is the key to getting these nutrients naturally. However, when the body lacks them, supplements come to rescue.

Visit your dermatologist to consult which supplement will suit your hair type and help with hair loss.

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