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Vitamin B1 – also known as thiamine (or thiamin) – is part of the B-complex of vitamins. This vitamin plays a key role in mitochondrial health, macronutrient metabolism, and energy production. Deficiencies in vitamin B1 have been linked to weight loss, neurological declines, and hair loss in rodents. You can find vitamin B1 in supplements marketed for the treatment of hair loss.
Key insights:
- Vitamin B1 is an essential cofactor in the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) which is essential for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) however there is no evidence to say whether B1 supplementation changes the levels of NADPH – and subsequently DHT.
- Whilst B1 deficiency can lead to hair loss, this is usually indicative of a wider health problem that may not be representative of more common reasons for hair loss and may not be treatable by vitamin B1 supplementation alone.
- The in vitro (in cells) evidence suggests that thiamine treatment can increase the growth (proliferation) of keratinocytes and that in combination with L-cysteine, may provide a protective effect against UV radiation which may be beneficial to hair health.
- There are some clinical studies that found that vitamin B1 alongside a combination of other vitamins and minerals was able to treat telogen effluvium effectively. However, because of the large number of ingredients, it is not possible to determine if any effect was due to vitamin B1.
- Our experience tracking members: by itself, vitamin B1 alone is not enough to improve hair loss outcomes.
Additional links:
- Vitamin B1: Evidence Quality (Rubric)
- Dietary supplement increases anagen hair rate in women with telogen effluvium results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Cysteine-thiamine-containing hair-growth formulation modulated the response to UV radiation in an in vitro model for growth-limiting conditions of human keratinocytes
- Vitamin B1 for Hair Loss: Good or Bad for Hair Loss?