A Potential Relation Between Telogen Effluvium and Iron Deficiency in Adult Females

January 2005

Nidal A. Obaidat, Basel T. Rawashdeh, Abdul-Razzaq A. Wreikat, Ahlam A. Awamleh

telogen effluvium iron deficiency serum ferritin hematocrit ferrous sulphate chronic diffuse hair loss hair loss iron supplement

TLDR Low iron levels are linked to hair loss in adult women.

The study examined the link between chronic telogen effluvium and iron deficiency in 72 adult menstruating women compared to 30 healthy controls. It found that while hematocrit levels were similar, serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in patients (18.7 ng/mL) than in controls (47.6 ng/mL). Patients treated with 600 mg of ferrous sulphate daily for 4 months showed elevated serum ferritin levels and improved hair growth. The study concluded that low serum ferritin levels were significantly associated with chronic telogen effluvium, suggesting that serum ferritin levels could be valuable in evaluating chronic diffuse hair loss in adult menstruating women.

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