Studies

Explore research connecting ingredients and health goals.

21 ingredient–goal connections

GoalReported findings
SupportiveMixedNo effectAdverseUnclassified

Hair HealthandVitamin D

34published studies

Disputed

Observational research often finds lower Vitamin D levels in people with certain forms of hair loss, particularly alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss. Some findings also link lower levels with more severe disease, but this pattern is inconsistent. These comparisons cannot determine whether Vitamin D deficiency contributes to hair loss or reflects other differences between patients and controls.

Evidence for oral supplementation is much less established. Adding Vitamin D to another hair-loss treatment has shown promise in female pattern hair loss, while Vitamin D alone has not shown a clear benefit in the supplied clinical evidence. Prospective research also found no association between Vitamin D intake and later development of alopecia areata.

Some favorable treatment findings involve Vitamin D injected into scalp lesions or topical Vitamin D analogues in localized alopecia areata. Those are distinct medical treatments and do not demonstrate a benefit from routine oral supplements. The supplied evidence therefore supports a relationship with Vitamin D status, while leaving its effectiveness as a general hair-growth supplement uncertain.

34 linked studies · 28 sampled for detail · Sep 27, 2026

Study types

  • Cross-sectional study10
  • Meta-analysis7
  • Case-control study6
  • Narrative review3
  • Randomized trial3
  • Single-arm trial2
  • Cohort study1
  • Non-randomized trial1
  • Systematic review1

Published by year

  • 2Earlier
  • 02010
  • 02011
  • 02012
  • 02013
  • 02014
  • 02015
  • 12016
  • 22017
  • 32018
  • 02019
  • 12020
  • 22021
  • 82022
  • 72023
  • 42024
  • 22025
  • 22026

Findings over time

Numbers above bars show study counts. Earlier groups years before 2010.

20262 studies

  • Supportive1
  • Mixed0
  • No effect0
  • Adverse1
  • Unclassified0

Population over time

Reported participants by publication year. Select a year to see the total and reporting coverage.

— Participant count not reported. Earlier groups years before 2010.

202661,332 reported participants

Counts reported by 1 of 2 studies. 1 without a reported count.

Totals sum reported counts across studies and reviews; participants may overlap between sources.

Explore this goal

Showing 5 top-ranked studies for Vitamin D and Hair Health.

Top studies

Vitamin D · Hair HealthHighest ranked first
  1. Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    2018Meta-analysis2,039 participants14 studies reviewed

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV

    Finding The meta-analysis found a significantly lower mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in alopecia areata subjects.

    SupportiveView source for Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with alopecia areata: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (opens in a new tab)
  2. Intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
    2022Randomized trial60 participants

    Journal of cosmetic dermatology

    Finding A statistically significant difference in degree of improvement favored the vitamin D3 group over the control group (p-value <0.001).

    SupportiveView source for Intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled clinical trial. (opens in a new tab)
  3. Vitamin D and its Analogs in Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alopecia Areata: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
    2025Meta-analysis

    Indian dermatology online journal

    Finding Across the included evidence, the reported overall success rate for mild-to-moderate alopecia areata was about 53.75%.

    SupportiveView source for Vitamin D and its Analogs in Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alopecia Areata: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (opens in a new tab)
  4. Topical calcipotriol vs narrowband ultraviolet B in treatment of alopecia areata: a randomized-controlled trial.
    2020Randomized trial60 participants

    Archives of dermatological research

    Finding SALT scores and vitamin D3 levels improved in the active topical-treatment groups but not placebo; this is not direct evidence for vitamin D supplementation.

    SupportiveView source for Topical calcipotriol vs narrowband ultraviolet B in treatment of alopecia areata: a randomized-controlled trial. (opens in a new tab)
  5. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in non-scarring alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
    2024Meta-analysis10,670 participants23 studies reviewed

    Journal of cosmetic dermatology

    Finding Compared with healthy controls, people with non-scarring alopecia had lower serum 25(OH)D and higher odds of vitamin D deficiency; this is an association, not proof that deficiency causes hair loss.

    SupportiveView source for Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in non-scarring alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (opens in a new tab)

Counts reflect published studies in our database, not the strength of a benefit. A study may appear in more than one connection.