What Research Says About Nutrafol®—and What to Try First
Many of us may take our hair for granted until something goes wrong—that was me in my twenties. After burning the candle at both ends for too long, I realized my hair had started thinning. This was fairly alarming because I had always had thick, healthy hair. Adrenal and thyroid supplements improved things slightly, but then they stopped working.
We see this quite a bit in the clinic. By the time our clients find us, they’ve spent a bunch of money on supplements without much improvement—they’re frustrated and don’t know what to do next.
If you’re dealing with hair problems like I did, you may be considering Nutrafol®, a dietary supplement specifically targeting hair struggles. But does Nutrafol® really work? Let me share what the research says and provide you with some strategies to consider before adding hair growth products.
What Is Nutrafol®?
Nutrafol® is a highly popular hair growth supplement with a combination of herbs, fatty acids, phytonutrients, foods, vitamins, and minerals. The company offers hair health supplements for both women and men, and specific formulas for vegans, women over the age of 45, and women who have recently given birth (postpartum).
Nutrafol® supplements contain many natural ingredients that have research to suggest they benefit both hair and general health. The following table includes what you might find in a Nutrafol® supplement, depending on the formulation:
Main Ingredients | Supportive Ingredients |
|
|
You can buy single bottles of Nutrafoll® or opt for monthly delivery with perks such as:
- Wellness coaching with a licensed naturopathic doctor
- Hair mineral analysis testing to personalize your hair growth strategy
- A subscription to Headspace, an app with tools to help with sleep and stress management
Does Nutrafol® Really Work?
With the huge array of hair growth supplements, oils, and treatments people are marketing and pushing on social media, it can be hard to know what actually works. Spending time and money to research these things is an investment!
When it comes to Nutrafol®, several randomized placebo-controlled trials (gold-standard type of human studies) suggest it may promote hair growth, reduce shedding, and improve hair quality for people with thinning hair. It is important to note, however, that these studies were funded by Nutrafol—so we should maintain a somewhat skeptical eye.
The following table summarizes the research results:
Study Description | Result |
85 men with thinning hair took Nutrafol® Men’s or a placebo for 6 months 1. | Men taking the supplement had significantly improved hair growth and quality. |
70 perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women with thinning hair took Nutrafol® Women’s Balance Capsules or a placebo for six months 2. | Women taking the supplement saw more hair regrowth and less hair loss. |
In a follow-up to the above women’s study, 60 of the women either continued with Nutrafol® Women’s Balance Capsules, or, if they had been in the placebo group, started taking the same Nutrafol® supplement for the next six months. No one knew what they had received until the full study was completed 3. |
|
40 adult women with self-reported hair thinning took Nutrafol® Women’s Capsules or a placebo for six months 4. | Women taking Nutrafol® had more hair growth, better hair quality, and greater hair satisfaction. |
Interestingly, an independent systematic (methodical) review of studies also concluded that Nutrafol® has reasonable evidence supporting its potential benefits for people with hair loss (aka alopecia) 5.
Nutrafol® had no side effects in any of the studies I reviewed. As expected, the Nutrafol® website encourages customers to consult a healthcare provider before trying any new supplement. They also recommend against taking the Nutrafol® Collagen Infusion if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Does It Have to Be Nutrafol®?
Nutrafol® contains a variety of supportive and active ingredients (vitamins and minerals, probiotics, marine collagen, and saw palmetto) that may promote healthy hair through different mechanisms, such as:
- Improving gut health
- Encouraging hormone balance
- Reducing stress
- Lowering inflammation
- Improving nutritional status
But Nutrafol® products can be expensive—a one-month supply costs $88, and routine delivery starts at $79 a month.
Although limited research suggests Nutrafol® may be helpful, you don’t have to take it to improve your hair health. There are plenty of less expensive strategies that may be just as effective.
So, I’d like to share some information on the root causes of hair struggles and what you may want to try first (or even along with Nutrafol®) to get the best results.
Hair 101
As humans, we have about five million hair follicles in the deepest layer of our skin. From these follicles, our hair grows to 6:
- Protect us from the environment (sun, wind, cold)
- Regulate our body temperature
- Produce oil and scent
- Play a role in our social and sexual signaling
The hair on the scalp grows about 1 centimeter a month, and it’s normal for us to lose around 100–200 hairs a day. If your hair is falling out in large amounts, you notice bald patches, or your hair is much thinner than usual, you should talk to a healthcare provider.
Hair loss (alopecia) comes in two major forms 7:
- Non-scarring – This is common and influenced by genes and hormones.
- Scarring – This is when permanent shiny, bald patches develop from conditions like lupus or bacterial infections.
Washing, brushing, braiding, heat styling, and chemical treatments can all wreak havoc on your hair and even cause it to fall out 8.
But hair is also a kind of window into the health of the body—hair loss unrelated to daily wear and tear could be a sign of internal problems like disease, a nutritional imbalance, an infection, drug side effects, stress, or gut inflammation.
Possible Cause of Hair Loss | Details |
Thyroid disorders | |
Genetics | |
Stress | |
Nutritional imbalances |
|
Drugs and Supplements | |
Unhealthy habits |
|
Toxins and Chemicals | |
Illness | |
Inflammation |
|
The Path To Healthier Hair
That’s a fairly long list of risk factors for hair loss. The good news is that we have more influence than you might think over a lot of these risk factors, such as inflammation, nutritional imbalances, stress, unhealthy habits, and certain toxin exposures.
Making some adjustments in these areas first may help improve the health of your hair and reverse hair loss.
Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation is linked to hair loss 17, but improving your gut health is a great way to reduce overall inflammation and potentially reduce any hair loss you’re experiencing. You can begin to heal your gut today by following a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet (such as the Mediterranean diet or Paleo diet).
Since research suggests several macro- and micronutrients are tied to hair loss, it might pay off to focus on food sources of these nutrients in the wider context of an anti-inflammatory meal plan. It may be tempting to take these in dietary supplement form, but excess amounts may actually harm your hair (and overall health).
The following table lists hair health nutrients, how they impact hair, and their food sources 15:
Hair Health Nutrient | Hair Health Impact | Food Sources |
Protein |
|
Beef, poultry, fish, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, quinoa, soy foods, eggs, dairy foods |
Biotin |
|
Egg yolks, dairy products, fish, liver, nuts, seeds, legumes |
Iron |
|
Red meat, poultry, seafood, organ meats, beans, legumes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, dried fruits, fortified breakfast cereals |
Selenium |
|
Brazil nuts, seafood, meat, poultry, organ meats, grains, dairy, and eggs |
Vitamin A |
|
Eggs, leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, and beef liver |
Vitamin C |
|
Bell peppers, potatoes, citrus fruits, broccoli, tomato, and Brussels sprouts |
Vitamin D |
|
Trout, tuna, salmon, mackerel, irradiated mushrooms, fortified dairy and non-dairy foods |
Vitamin E |
|
Wheat germ oil, almonds, seeds, spinach, mango, tomato |
Zinc |
|
Shellfish, red meat, poultry, seafood, nuts, pumpkin seeds, legumes, dairy products, fortified breakfast cereals |
Gut Health Supplements
Following a nutrient-dense diet lays the foundation for rebuilding gut health and reducing inflammation. But these supplements may also help promote a healthy gut and healthy hair:
- Probiotics helped encourage thicker, healthier hair in people with androgenic alopecia in one study 18. Our clients tend to get the most benefit when they combine the three main categories of probiotics—what we call the triple therapy probiotic approach.
- Marine proteins may help with hair loss 19. The collagen in the proteins has the potential to reduce gut symptoms 20 and improve leaky gut 21.
Hair-Healthy Habits
Along with eating a healthy diet and taking probiotics, these habits may improve hair health and reverse hair loss:
- Getting regular restful sleep 13
- Limiting or avoiding tight hairstyles that pull on your hair regularly 7
- Practicing a daily stress management technique 12 14 15
- Getting safe sun exposure (to keep vitamin D levels up)
- Choosing only high-quality dietary supplements 15
- Avoiding hair dyes and chemical hair treatments 12
- Getting help to manage any chronic illness, infection, or autoimmune condition 13 15 16
- Quitting smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke 13
- Limiting alcohol 13
Other Options for Hair Health
Improving your diet and lifestyle can target many of the root causes of hair issues. If you’re still struggling, there are other drug-free options to consider:
Natural Therapy | Details |
Red light therapy (RLT) |
|
Scalp stimulation |
Dermatologists also use conventional topical hair loss treatments, but they can come with side effects and require long-term use. For example:
- Finasteride and minoxidil may help, especially when combined 13 29.
- Baricitinib has shown clear, significant effectiveness over placebo in a high-quality meta-analysis (study of studies) 30.
Target Root Causes To Regain Healthy Hair
So, does Nutrafol® really work? Both Nutrafol® employees and independently funded researchers suggest this nutraceutical may be beneficial for people with hair loss, and it seems to be safe for adults. However, there are no guarantees, and Nutrafol® comes with a hefty price tag, depending on your budget.
Some hair struggles are related to daily wear and tear. But even significant hair loss can be tied to modifiable risk factors like poor gut health, toxin exposure, poor nutrition, chronic stress, poor sleep, daily tight hairstyles, and alcohol use. We can improve a lot of these by building healthy habits.
If you’re dealing with hair loss or otherwise unhealthy hair, it may be worth it to address potential inflammation by healing your gut and feeding your body with a nutrient-dense diet. Probiotics can also go a long way toward healing your gut so it can break down and put those hair nutrients to good use. Adding in lifestyle adjustments to manage your stress, optimize sleep, and limit toxin exposure can also help improve your hair health. If you don’t see changes after a few months, Nutrafol® seems like a safe hair care product to try.
If you need assistance, we’re always happy to help—contact us at the Ruscio Institute for Functional Health to make an appointment.
The Ruscio Institute has developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our clients and audience. If you’re interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you. The information on DrRuscio.com is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, natural health provider, researcher, and clinician. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport and has published numerous papers in scientific journals as well as the book Healthy Gut, Healthy You. He also founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, where he helps patients with a wide range of GI conditions and serves as the Head of Research.
Discussion
I care about answering your questions and sharing my knowledge with you. Leave a comment or connect with me on social media asking any health question you may have and I just might incorporate it into our next listener questions podcast episode just for you!