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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
  • Curcumin (active ingredient in turmeric)
  • Ashwagandha
  • Saw palmetto
  • Moldavian dragonhead
  • Shatavari
  • DHA Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Apple polyphenols
  • Stinging nettle
  • Collagen-OSA (orthosilicic acid)
  • Theanine
  • Maca Astaxanthin Resveratrol
  • Horsetail
  • Keratin
  • Pea sprouts
  • Bacillus subtilis DE111 probiotic
  • Pea sprout extract
  • Sea buckthorn
  • Tocotrienol complex
  • Hydrolyzed marine collagen
  • Kelp minerals
  • L-cysteine
  • L-methionine
  • Capsicum
  • Vitamin C
  • Biotin
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin B12
  • Kelp (iodine)
  • Bamboo
  • Chlorella
  • Vitamin B2
  • Vitamin B5
  • L-lysine
  • Black pepper
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Zinc
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Vitamin D (from algae)
  • Vitamin K2
  • Beet root
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B3
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B9

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.
  • All women taking Nutrafol® had improvements in hair growth, reduced shedding, and better quality of life and menopausal symptoms over time.
  • Women who had started on a placebo saw major improvements once they began taking the supplement.
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
  • These are uncommon—hypothyroidism affects ≤5% and hyperthyroidism affects about 1% of people—and are unlikely to be the main cause of hair loss 9 10.
  • In studies of people with hair loss, only 12–17% had thyroid issues 11 12.
Genetics
  • Genes are the main driver of male-pattern and female-pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) 13.
  • In one study, 85% of patients had a family history 11.
Stress
  • In two studies, stress was highly linked to hair loss in 18–63% of women 12 14.
  • Temporary stress-related hair loss (telogen effluvium) is often triggered by physical stressors such as fever, hormonal changes after giving birth, crash dieting, and surgery 15.
Nutritional imbalances
  • Hair loss is strongly linked to not eating enough fatty acids, protein, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, and iron 15.
  • In one study, 62% of females with hair loss had low vitamin D, 29% had low ferritin, and 15% had abnormal zinc levels 11.
  • Another study showed that 80% of females with hair loss had low vitamin D, 75% had low B12, and 85% were vegetarians 14
  • Excess selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E are also linked to hair loss 13 15.
Drugs and Supplements
  • Common medications such as statins and beta-blockers are linked to hair loss 15.
  • Contaminated or low-quality supplements are linked to hair loss 15.
Unhealthy habits
  • Smoking, high red meat intake, heavy drinking, and poor sleep are associated with male- and female-pattern hair loss 13.
Toxins and Chemicals
  • One study found that hair dye and other hair chemicals were top factors in 53.3% of women with hair loss 12.
  • Heavy metals, which can be found in highly processed foods and other environmental chemicals, are also linked to hair loss 15.
Illness
  • Viral infections such as chickenpox, HIV, and COVID-19, and chronic illnesses like diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases are also associated with hair loss 13 15 16.
Inflammation
  • Hair loss is often tied to inflammation 17.

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
  • Essential for hair structure and growth
  • Deficiency can lead to hair thinning, brittleness, color changes, and alopecia
Beef, poultry, fish, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, quinoa, soy foods, eggs, dairy foods
Biotin
  • Deficiency is extremely rare
  • No solid evidence that biotin supplements improve hair loss unless there’s a documented deficiency
  • High doses may interfere with important lab tests
Egg yolks, dairy products, fish, liver, nuts, seeds, legumes
Iron
  • Essential for DNA synthesis and hair follicle function
  • Deficiency is especially common in women, vegetarians, and those with chronic blood loss
  • Deficiency has been linked to certain types of hair loss, though evidence is inconsistent
  • No consensus on screening or supplementing with iron for hair loss treatment
Red meat, poultry, seafood, organ meats, beans, legumes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, dried fruits, fortified breakfast cereals
Selenium
  • Essential antioxidant that may play a role in hair health
  • Both deficiency (rare) and excess can cause hair loss
  • Over-supplementation or high intake (e.g., from Brazil nuts or misformulated supplements) can lead to significant hair loss and other toxic effects
Brazil nuts, seafood, meat, poultry, organ meats, grains, dairy, and eggs
Vitamin A
  • Essential for cell growth and immune function
  • Little evidence linking vitamin A deficiency to hair loss
  • Too much from supplements or medications is clearly associated with hair loss and other toxic effects
Eggs, leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, and beef liver
Vitamin C
  • Essential for collagen synthesis, iron absorption, and antioxidant effects
  • Severe deficiency (scurvy) causes distinctive hair changes
  • No solid evidence that vitamin C supplementation prevents or treats hair loss unless iron deficiency is also present
Bell peppers, potatoes, citrus fruits, broccoli, tomato, and Brussels sprouts
Vitamin D
  • May play a role in hair health
  • No strong clinical data supports vitamin D supplementation for hair loss unless a deficiency is present
Trout, tuna, salmon, mackerel, irradiated mushrooms, fortified dairy and non-dairy foods
Vitamin E
  • May play a role in hair health due to its antioxidant properties
  • Supplementation is only clearly beneficial in cases of deficiency
  • Excessive intake can be harmful
Wheat germ oil, almonds, seeds, spinach, mango, tomato
Zinc
  • Deficiency can clearly lead to hair loss and brittle hair
  • Benefits of zinc supplementation for hair loss in people without a confirmed deficiency are unclear
  • Over-supplementation can cause digestive issues and impaired absorption of other essential minerals
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:

Hair-Healthy Habits

Along with eating a healthy diet and taking probiotics, these habits may improve hair health and reverse hair loss:

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)
  • RLT, especially in the 630–660 nm range, can help grow thicker hair in people with androgenic alopecia. It works even better when combined with blue light but results aren’t the same for everyone 22 23 24 25.
  • The FDA has approved LED caps as safe, but how well they work can depend on the type of light they use and how you use them 26.
Scalp stimulation
  • Scalp massage—by hand or with a device—may help slow hair loss and slightly increase hair thickness 27. This could be because it physically stimulates the scalp and may turn on genes linked to hair growth 28.
  • Evidence is limited, based mostly on small or uncontrolled studies.

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.

➕ References

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