07/03/2026
Poor diet
Not getting enough essential nutrients can contribute to hair loss, particularly in people following restrictive diets.
For example, vegans and vegetarians have been found to be at greater risk of iron deficiency because they do not eat red meat, one of the richest sources of iron.
Studies have linked low iron levels to hair loss, particularly shedding known as telogen effluvium.
Deficiencies in zinc, found in meat and seafood, as well as vitamin B2, found in dairy products, eggs and lean meats, may also contribute to hair loss.
Meanwhile, low levels of folate, common in leafy green vegetables, beans and legumes, and vitamin B12, the richest sources of which are animal proteins, have been linked to some forms of alopecia.
A deficiency in selenium - found in Brazil nuts, fish, meats and eggs - can also lead to hair loss, studies have shown, although this is more rare.