Evidence supporting the use of: Lipids
For the health condition: Hair (loss or thinning)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Synopsis: Lipids, particularly certain essential fatty acids (like omega-3 and omega-6), have scientific backing for their role in supporting hair health and potentially reducing hair loss or thinning. Hair follicles are highly active structures, and their growth and maintenance require a constant supply of nutrients, including lipids. Deficiencies in essential fatty acids can lead to hair changes, including loss and thinning. Several studies have shown that supplementation with marine-derived omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants can improve hair density and reduce telogen effluvium (a form of temporary hair loss). For example, a 2015 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology demonstrated increased hair density and reduced hair loss in women who took a supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids along with antioxidants over six months.
Topical lipid-based treatments, such as those containing ceramides or phospholipids, are also used to improve scalp health and hair shaft integrity, though evidence for their effects on hair regrowth is less robust. While not a cure for all forms of hair loss, the scientific evidence supports the role of certain dietary and topical lipids in maintaining hair health and potentially mitigating some types of hair thinning, especially those related to nutritional deficiencies or scalp barrier dysfunction.
Other ingredients used for Hair (loss or thinning)
alfalfaamino acids
apricot
ashwagandha
biotin
black garlic
bovine gelatin
rice
burdock
collagen
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fish protein
flavonols
gelatin
ginseng
gooseberry
gotu kola
onion
green tea
iron
l-cystine
l-methionine
licorice root
moringa
nettle
niacinamide (vitamin B3)
omega-3 fatty acids
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid)
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
pollen
protein
quail egg
quercetin
reishi mushroom
selenium
silicon
spinach
spirulina
almond fruit
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
zinc
bee pollen
dioscorea
ganoderma
morinda
royal jelly
trace minerals
fulvic acid
algae
thyroid substance
Argan nut oil
Animal protein
Black Seed
Babchi
Beef liver
Ba Ji Tian
Borassus aethiopum
coconut oil
Chlorophytum
Cystine
DL-Methionine
Epidermal Growth Factor
Egg
Eugenol
Fatty acids
fibroblast growth factor
walnut