Association Between Serum Zinc, Vitamin D, and Ferritin Levels and Hair Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patients at Al-Ajilat Central Clinic

Abstract

One of the common health ailments of today is hair loss, which may be the result of multiple factors, including a person’s diet. Therefore, the present research was focused on the assessment of micronutrient deficiencies among Libyan patients suffering from diffuse hair loss. The present research was cross-sectional in nature with a sample consisting of 136 males and 136 females. Serum levels of zinc, vitamin D, and ferritin were measured in study cases (with hair loss) and controls (without hair loss). There was a marked statistically significant difference observed in all three cases of hair loss; the cases were noted to have lower mean levels of zinc (71.48vs94.28μg/dL), ferritin (35.83vs126.56ng/mL), and vitamin D (21.42vs60.59ng/mL). Furthermore, cases of hair loss showed a significant relationship with lower levels of zinc in both males and females (p<0.001). A significantly lower amount of ferritin was more strongly correlated with hair loss in both males and females (p<0.001). A vitamin D deficiency was common in 52.8% of the population sample with hair loss. The current research reflects the significant relationship between hair loss with lower levels of zinc and vitamin D, and ferritin. Furthermore, this study proposes that it would be worthwhile to evaluate the relationship of hair loss with micronutrient deficiencies.