Hair Loss Due to Gastrointestinal Disease

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By Jennifer Dickinson
eHow Contributing Writer

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Hair Loss Due to Gastrointestinal Disease

Hair is an indicator to overall health. If hair is healthy, the body is healthy. If hair is brittle or even falling out, it can be a sign of poor health and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Gastrointestinal disease is a rare but major culprit of hair loss, especially for women.

Contributors to Hair Loss From Gastrointestinal Disease

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result in hair loss.
Iron loss from anemia is a major factor in hair loss. Oxygen deprivation is a side effect of anemia, and oxygen in the blood delivers nutrients to the hair follicles. Vitamin B7 (also known as Biotin) deficiency can also be a contributor to hair loss from gastrointestinal disease.

Connecting Hair Loss to Gastrointestinal Disease

Vitamin, mineral and especially iron replacement can help correct hair loss.
According to a "Prevention Magazine" article, hair loss is sometimes a side effect of gastrointestinal disease, and is correctable. In the article, nutritional medicine specialist Dr. Michael A. Klaper points out the gastrointestinal connection to hair loss, attributing it to a malabsorption of protein, zinc and other nutrients from insufficient stomach acids.

Crohn's Disease and Hair Loss

Great Britain's Royal Society of Medicine reported a connection between Crohn's disease and hair loss. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease. Hair loss can be a result of an iron deficiency caused by malabsorption, one of the side effects of the disease.

Inflammation and Hair Follicles

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can impact vitamin absorption overall due to inflammation, which in turn can contribute to hair loss.

Deficiencies From Hair Loss and From Gastrointestinal Disease

An increase in vitamins and minerals to replace deficiencies is recommended to aid hair regrowth. Iron tablets can correct deficiencies from anemia. In the "Prevention" article, Dr. Klaper also suggests 4 to 6 tablets daily of non-dairy acidophilus over a 2-month period as a remedy.