Biotin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B7

Biotin (Vitamin B7) and Vitamin B12 for Hair Growth

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I rarely write about vitamins, minerals and natural treatments for hair loss. Most men and women with pattern hair loss will not benefit from vitamin supplementation unless significantly deficient. The most cited vitamins that have been shown to benefit hair growth are Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.

Several recent studies have shown a high correlation between low vitamin D levels and hair loss. Iron and Zinc deficiencies can also lead to hair loss.

In this post, I cover vitamin B7 and vitamin B12 for hair growth. Note that the full vitamin B-Complex includes all of the below:

  • Thiamine (B1).
  • Riboflavin (B2).
  • Niacin (B3).
  • Pantothenic Acid (B5).
  • Pyridoxine (B6),
  • Biotin (B7).
  • Folate (B9). Note that there is a new B9 and B12 combination patch on the market.
  • Cobalamin (B12).

You can search Amazon for the most popular and highly rated B-vitamins.

All the above B-vitamins are water soluble and play important roles in cell metabolism. Dietary intake recommendations can be found here.

Biotin (Vitamin B7) and Hair Growth

Biotin for Hair Growth.
Biotin Hair Growth Supplement.

Biotin (vitamin B7) is by far and away the most popular vitamin ingredient in numerous hair loss products. Most popular hair loss shampoos also contain Biotin. A number of amino acid hair growth products also include Biotin. As does Viviscal.

However, I have not seen any reliable before and after photos of hair growth that can purely be attributed to Biotin containing products and supplements. At best, you will get faster and possibly thicker nail and hair growth. Especially if you are deficient in vitamin B7.

Note that Biotin is also known as vitamin H and vitamin B8 in some countries. Vitamin B8 is known as Inositol in the US, while vitamin B7 is known as Biotin.

Current US recommendations call for daily Biotin adequate intake for both male and female adults at 30 μg/day. This is easily achieved via a typical American diet, even when not containing a diverse range of foods. However, one study found that 38 percent of women with hair loss had a deficiency.

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Wilma Bergfeld:

“We find biotin to be very helpful for hair disorders.”

Apparently, besides speeding hair and nail growth, Biotin also helps reduce inflammation. Dandruff and inflammation are common problems in those suffering from androgenetic alopecia.

In 2017, researchers conducted a literature review on the benefits of Biotin for hair growth. They found all 18 reports of B7 deficient people seeing thicker and increased hair and nail growth after supplementation. However, the authors note that Biotin deficiency is rare, and most healthy people do not need to take Biotin tablets or pills. Even if you do take Biotin supplements, overdose related side effects are highly unlikely.

Vitamin B12 for Hair Growth

Vitamin B12 Hair Loss Supplement.
Vitamin B12 for Hair Growth Supplement.

Vitamin B12 (also known as Cobalamin) is the second B-Complex vitamin that is highly recommended for hair loss.

Unless you are a strict vegan and do not even drink milk, you are unlikely to be deficient in vitamin B12. Many vegetarian foods and drinks also come fortified with vitamin B12.

However, some people do have genetic conditions and metabolism disorders that cause B12 deficiencies. Taking supplement or Cyanocobalamin injections can lead to hair regrowth in such rare cases.

For vegans, fermented foods, sea vegetables and nutritional yeast are good sources of Vitamin B12. In rare cases, hair and nail pigment changes have been associated with B12 deficiencies.

It seems like women tend to see greater hair regrowth if they address nutritional deficiencies such as B-vitamins, iron and zinc. Men tend to usually suffer from androgenetic alopecia rather than from any other forms of hair loss.

DKK-1, Dickkopf 1

DKK-1 Inhibition and Hair Growth

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Past hair loss research has concluded that Dickkopf 1 (DKK-1) inhibition promotes scalp hair growth. Dickkopf-related protein 1 is encoded by the DKK1 gene. The latter is the most up-regulated gene in androgenetic alopecia,

DKK-1 Hair Loss
DKK-1 and hair loss. Source: JID.

A South Korean team of researchers has written a number of papers for more than a decade on the connection between DKK-1 and hair loss. Their well known 2008 findings concluded that DHT-inducible DKK-1 is involved in DHT-driven balding. Their 2012 paper was titled Dickkopf 1 promotes regression of hair follicles.

More recently, a 2016 paper from Egypt found that levels of DKK-1 were higher than normal in humans with both androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) types of hair loss. It was also higher in AGA cases versus AA cases. DKK-1 was higher in males with AGA compared to females with AGA. Another 2019 paper from Egypt also reached similar conclusions.

A famous 2013 study from University of Pennsylvania found that by disrupting Wnt signaling in an animal model using the DKK-1 inhibitor, hair growth was prevented. However, stem cells were still maintained within the dormant hair follicles. When DKK-1 was subsequently removed, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway resumed normal function. i.e., stem cells reactivated and hair growth was restored. More here.

Interestingly, three of the co-authors of the above paper are also listed as co-inventors on a patent related to using DKK1 to reduce body hair growth.

New DKK-1 Hair Growth Patent

The reason I decided to write this post is due to a new DKK-1 related patent that was recently granted to a South Korean company called Bioneer (h/t reader “Andre”). On Bioneer’s website, I do not currently see anything related to hair loss products or research.

The patent has many pages with a lot of great information. My favorite sentence (with slight grammar modification) regarding the invention:

“A double-stranded oligonucleotide construct or the nanoparticle as an active ingredient according to the present invention. It highly efficiently suppresses the expression of DKK1, without side effects. And it is remarkably effective for preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth.”

DKK-1 Inhibition

There is significant interest in the treatment of hair loss via countering or inhibiting DKK-1. Studies have looked at existing natural (e.g., ginseng extract) and synthetic products.

Which brings me to my past post on creating the ultimate hair loss drug cocktail. The reader who sent me the lengthy and detailed spreadsheet that I pasted in that post had the following suggestions for inhibiting DKK-1:

  • Tianeptine.
  • L-Threonate.
  • Vitamin D3.

I have not done much research on this subject, so perhaps the knowledgeable readers can verify if the above makes sense.

Further Research

Forum threads such as this one on BTT also have many suggestions that I have not explored in any detail. As readers comment on this post, I will add more details about specific recommendations.

Interestingly, Dr. Cole’s Wnt Spray product on Amazon (no longer available) claims to reduce DKK1 activity by 21%.