Hair Growth Promoting Agents: Amino Acids, Biotin, and B Complex

On average, a person has 300,000 strands of hair on their scalp, each growing out of single hair follicles. Most people’s hair is actively growing at any time, while a small portion of it, perhaps 10 percent, remains in a phase of resting in the growth cycle. Only about half an inch of hair growth takes place every month, leading to a total growth of roughly a foot per year. On average, 150 strands of hair fall daily. There’s a lot of hair loss that takes place naturally, and to lessen it, hair growth is enhanced through nutrition specific to hair, such as biotin, B vitamins, and amino acids can be consumed.

However, it’s always important to consult with a doctor before following any kind of treatment.

Hair Growth

Under the top most part of the scalp, the dermal layers, lie your hair follicles which is where strands of hair grow. The average hair follicle is bulb-shaped and produced a single strand of hair. Unlike its place of origin, hair shafts consist of dead protein.

Hair growth happens in three stages: anagen, which is the active growth stage, followed by categen, also known as the intermediate stage and lastly, the telogen phrase where hair growth stops, also known as the resting stage. The natural cycle of hair growth includes both growth and loss of hair.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are considered to be an integral, building blocks of protein. Hair is made up of keratin through the grouping together of various fibrous proteins. These include the amino acids known as cysteine, which is produced by your own body making it a non-essential amino acid, and methionine which is consumed through your food and diet, making it an essential amino acid. Meat, fish along with dairy is a good source for obtaining methionine. Both of these amino acids play a crucial role in hair development as it lays the foundation in forming the hair shaft. You may take supplements of methionine under your physician’s advice.

Biotin

Part of the B vitamin family, biotin is manufactured inside your body in your intestine. Not having enough in your system will lead to the loss of hair. A study showed that eggs are a good source of biotin, but it’s important to remove the egg whites. The experiment that determined this occurred when an young boy consumed raw eggs resulted in hair loss. Upon having him consume only the yolks, his hair growth returned to normal. Upon further inspection, they discovered that avidin was present in egg whites, restricts biotin from working properly.

B-Complex Vitamins

Folic acid, pantothenic acid, niacin, biotin, riboflavin, thiamine, inositol, B12 and B6 all fall under the B vitamin family. These complex vitamins are essential for maintaining metabolism when it comes to protein, fats, and carbs.

They’re also vital for the body to produce energy. As far as your hair goes, B vitamins make proteins inside your body, so they helps in making new cells and tissues, including hair. Other kinds of B vitamins, such as inositol, riboflavin, niacin, and biotin are integral to the health of your hair and enhance growth.