Hair Loss and Hair Loss Treatment

Ann Dermatol. 2009;21:142

The therapeutic effect and the changed serum zinc level after zinc
supplementation in alopecia areata patients who had a low serum zinc level.

Park H, et al

edited for hair loss treatment blog

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that some alopecia areata patients have zinc
deficiency. There have also been several reports published concerning oral zinc
sulfate therapy, with encouraging results, in some alopecia areata patients.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of
oral zinc supplementation for twelve weeks in alopecia areata patients who had a
low serum zinc level. METHODS: Oral zinc gluconate (50 mg/T/day) supplementation
was given to alopecia areata patients without any other treatment for twelve
weeks. The serum zinc level was measured before and after zinc supplementation. A
four-point scale of hair regrowth was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of
oral zinc supplementation in these patients. RESULTS: Fifteen alopecia areata
patients were enrolled in this study. After the therapy, the serum zinc levels
increased significantly from 56.9 microg/ to 84.5 microg/dl. Positive therapeutic
effects were observed for 9 out of 15 patients (66.7%) although this was not
statistically significant. The serum zinc levels of the positive response group
increased more than those of the negative response group (p=0.003). CONCLUSION:
Zinc supplementation needs to be given to the alopecia areata patients who have a
low serum zinc level. We suggest that zinc supplementation could become an
adjuvant therapy for the alopecia areata patients with a low serum zinc level and
for whom the traditional therapeutic methods have been unsuccessful.