Hair reflects a person's health status. In the event of nutrient deficiency, it can be affected. Not produced by the body, but supplied through diet, omega-3 fatty acids could have various beneficial properties for the hair when consumed. Here's an overview of their hair benefits.
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What are the benefits of omega-3 for hair?
Summary
- Benefit #1: Omega-3s prevent hair loss and promote hair growth
- Benefit #2: Omega-6 can soothe scalp inflammation
- Sources
Published May 31, 2024,
updated on June 4, 2024,
by
Kahina, Scientific Editor
—
4 min read
Benefit #1: Omega-3s prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.
Consuming omega-3 could play a role in maintaining healthy hair and scalp, through various benefits. Antonella TOSTI and her colleagues conducted a study to evaluate, compared to a control group, the effects on hair loss of a six-month supplementation of omega-3 and -6 and specific antioxidants (460 mg of fish oil, 460 mg of blackcurrant seed oil) in 120 women. Six months later, photographic analysis showed significant improvement in the group that received the supplementation. In the supplemented group, the rate of telogen hairs (shed hairs) was significantly reduced. A decrease in hair loss (89.9% of subjects at six months) was observed in most of the supplemented subjects, as well as an improvement in hair diameter (86.1%) and hair density.
The results are linked to the properties of omega-3s. Indeed, a study conducted by Tiantian ZHANG has shown that supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), omega-3 fatty acids, could increase the length and density of hair. These fatty acids are capable of regulating the hair follicle cycle, increasing the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which accelerates hair regrowth and increases the size of hair follicles, and regulating fibroblast growth factor 18 (Fgf18), one of the factors responsible for hair loss.
Benefit #2: Omega-6 can soothe scalp inflammation.
No study has proven a specific effect on the scalp from the consumption of omega-3. However, anti-inflammatory effects on the skin from omega-3 supplementation have been demonstrated. Hadi ESMAILY and his team wanted to study the consequences of EPA ingestion on 48 children suffering from atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease that can occur on the scalp. The children were treated either with 250 mg of EPA twice a day or with a placebo for four weeks. The researchers measured the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis index (SCORAD, which increases with the severity of symptoms, ranging from 0 to 103). The results decreased from 50 to 30.5 in the EPA group and from 47 to 38.34 in the placebo group after two weeks. Four weeks later, the scores decreased to 18.01 in the EPA group and to 30.11 in the placebo group.
Omega-3 fatty acids compete with arachidonic acid for incorporation into the phospholipids of cell membranes. This results in a decrease in the secretion of metabolites of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane A2, and leukotriene B4, potent inducers of inflammation, responsible for characteristic symptoms such as redness and itching. Therefore, the ingestion of omega-3 can reduce symptoms related to skin inflammations, which can certainly occur on the scalp.
However, these are only hypotheses.
Sources
TOSTI A. & al. Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2015).
ZHANG T. & al. Effects of dietary supplementation with EPA/DHA-enriched phospholipids combined with blue light irradiation on hair regeneration in mice. Journal of Fisheries of China (2021).
ESMAILY H. & al. Evaluating the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid in children with atopic dermatitis: A randomized triple-blind clinical rial. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2023).
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