Does Vitamin B6 Help Hair Growth?

Vitamin B6--or pyridoxine--assists the body in creating energy by turning carbohydrates into glucose. Like all B complex vitamins, it plays a major role in maintaining the health of the skin, eyes, hair and liver.

Function

Vitamin B6 contributes to the functioning and development of the human brain by producing neurotransmitters (chemicals which help to facilitate communication throughout the body).

Food sources

Vitamin B6 is present in foods such as brown rice, chicken, turkey, milk, cheese, carrots, spinach, whole-grain flour, salmon and shrimp, among others.

Deficiency

A deficiency in Vitamin B6 is rare, but is most likely to occur in children and older adults. Some signs of a severe deficiency may be irritability, depression and muscle weakness.

Benefits

According to a study published in the September 2008 edition of the Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vitamin B6, when combined with azelaic acid, may help to accelerate hair growth.

Warning

Very high doses of vitamin B6 can cause a number of negative side effects, including neurological disorders--such as a loss of sensation in the legs--abdominal pain and nausea.

References

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B6 and Hair Growth