The Role of Micronutrients and Thyroid Function Tests in Pediatric Hair Loss

The study examined the link between micronutrient levels and hair loss in 75 pediatric patients with diffuse, non-scarring alopecia compared to 75 healthy controls. It found that children with hair loss had significantly lower levels of zinc and folate, with folate deficiency notably associated with an increased risk of hair loss. Other micronutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and TSH were lower in the hair loss group but not significantly so. The study suggests assessing serum micronutrient levels, including folate, in children with hair loss. The research is strengthened by its age- and sex-matched control group but limited by its retrospective design and single-center data collection, indicating a need for larger, multi-center studies to further explore folate's role in hair growth and loss.