Hair loss - vegan related?

[Fushia123]

My DD21 is at uni and is concerned about her recent hair loss which she noticed in August. She has long blonde hair - often in a pony tail or tied up. It’s getting much thinner and comes out each time she brushes it. She was concerned enough to ask the GP for advice and has been offered blood tests. She has been vegan for 3 and a half years. Any advice about whether a vegan diet could be a reason for this would be gratefully received. DH and I are not vegan and she lives away from home at uni.

Any diet deficient in nutrients could cause this. Is she getting enough B12 and iron?
How long has this been going on? I notice hair loss at certain times of the year and my hairdresser confirmed this is normal.

Does she have very thick hair? I shed like a golden retriever, especially if I wear my hair in a ponytail. If it's a high pony and she has very thick hair, the weight of it can literally pull hair out at the roots, or tear it. If she's always wearing it that way it could genuinely just be that. My hairdresser recommended I give my hair a break and wear it in low styles at least every other day and I noticed a significant reduction in the amount falling out when I brush.

As pp said, nutrient deficiencies can also cause it, which hopefully the bloods will flag and the GP can recommend best ways for her to boost those nutrients in her diet.

It's more likely to be hormonal than nutrient related.
Is she overweight?

My hair starting thinning badly when I was on a very low cal diet- stopped when I started to eat normally. Those on vegan diets really need to know their stuff to make sure they are getting enough nutrients, fats and calories.

That said, stress can also effect hair loss

Is she short of iron?

In my 20s a combination of being vegetarian and heavy periods I managed to be anaemic for ages.

You need a ferritin at least >70 to stop hair loss

My hair falls out a lot when I'm not eating enough / not getting the right nutrition. I am always a bit of a shedder but I get a huge clump every time I brush my hair when it's bad.

B12 and iron are both harder to get enough of with vegan diet and do lead to hair loss so it is possible

Possible, soy and difficulty in getting enough b12 and iron are possible in a vegan diet but it could be stress from being at uni or whatever.

I would say yes, absolutely. Any recent sudden weight loss? That also does it regardless of diet.

What matters in diet is what she eats, not what she avoids (the animal products). There is a massive difference between whole foods plant based and the vegan junk made of vegan sausages, vegan ice-cream, pizza, fake cheese and so on.
Does she eat beans, legumes, tofu, whole grains, quinoa and vegetables? Most forget the VEG in VEGan.
You can have a very nutrient rich vegan diet but it requires planning and an understanding in which foods have which micronutrients and vitamins.
Is she supplementing as she should? B12 is a must, together with EPA-DHA, vitamin D , and possible a multi-vitamin every third day.
I am vegan and have very long and thick hair.

Has she had Covid in the past year?
Covid like any bad viral infection can cause hair loss. I lost a lot of hair when I had Covid, such that the short regrowth is noticeable.

Second what @Bobtheamazinggingerdog said, has she had COVID or any other serious viral illness?

Has she recently started or come off hormonal contraceptives?

Really interesting replies. Thanks so much for your thoughts.
I’ll talk to her about them all.

Read or suggest she read the Vegetarian Myth by Liere Kieth, or watch this video:

I'm vegan, have been for years. I started getting weird thin patches of hair at the back and top sides, when I've always had thick hair. Coped for 4 years with it and when I had the Mirena coil removed, my hair came back fine. 🙄