Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin E
For the body system: Hair

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin E is widely promoted for supporting hair health, largely based on its antioxidant properties. Scientifically, vitamin E is known to protect cells from oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals, which can damage hair follicles and potentially contribute to hair loss. Some small clinical studies and animal research suggest that vitamin E supplementation may improve hair growth in individuals with hair loss due to oxidative stress or nutritional deficiencies. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2010 found that tocotrienol supplementation (a form of vitamin E) led to a significant increase in hair count in volunteers with hair loss compared to placebo. However, the study was small, and further research is needed to confirm these findings and to clarify the mechanisms involved.

Despite these promising indications, the overall body of evidence is limited and not sufficiently robust to conclusively support vitamin E supplementation for hair health in the general population. Most studies are either preliminary, have small sample sizes, or are limited to specific populations. Additionally, excessive vitamin E supplementation can have adverse effects. While there is some scientific basis for the use of vitamin E in supporting hair health, particularly due to its antioxidant role, the quality and quantity of evidence warrant cautious interpretation. More large-scale, well-controlled human studies are needed to establish its effectiveness for this purpose.

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