From hair-growth capsules and vitamin drips to probiotics and longevity boosters, supplements are big business. Promising stronger hair, glowing skin, more energy and slower ageing, not all deliver proven benefits. Excessive intake and combinations can also trigger side effects and drug interactions.Fatigue, hair fall and muscle weakness aren’t always signs of deficiency. Find the cause before popping a pill.
THE HAIR-GROWTH ILLUSION
Hair fall sends many people straight to biotin, vitamin D, B12, zinc and collagen supplements. But nutritional deficiency is only one possible cause. Dr M Venkateswara Rao, Hair Transplant Expert, says hair loss can be linked to genetics, hormonal changes, stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies and scalp disorders. Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is largely influenced by genetic and hormonal factors. Taking extra vitamins will not necessarily reverse it. “Excess supplementation may worsen the problem,” he cautions.
THE TEST-FIRST APPROACH
l CBC: For anaemia screening.
l Serum ferritin: To evaluate iron stores.
l TSH: To investigate thyroid dysfunction.
l Vitamin B12: Particularly with restricted diets or other deficiency risks.
THE LONGEVITY INDUSTRY’S BIG PROMISE
NAD+ boosters, NMN, resveratrol and CoQ10 are marketed for energy and longevity. But evidence that they slow ageing or extend life in humans remains limited, says Dr Navodaya Gilla, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine and Diabetologist, CARE Hospitals. “Promising results in laboratory studies and animal experiments cannot automatically be translated into proven human benefits. We still lack large, long-term clinical trials showing that these supplements can meaningfully slow ageing or extend lifespan,” he says.
NAD+ supports cellular energy and DNA repair, while NMN is studied for its role in raising NAD+ levels. Resveratrol and CoQ10 are associated with antioxidant activity and cellular energy production. However, these biological effects do not establish longer life. “Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol and managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol have much stronger evidence for supporting healthy ageing than most commercially marketed longevity supplements,” says Dr Gilla.
SYMPTOMS
Fatigue, hair fall, brain fog and low energy do not automatically indicate vitamin deficiencies. Poor sleep, stress, anaemia, thyroid disorders and diabetes can cause similar symptoms.“Not on their own. These are very common complaints and a deficiency is only one of many possible reasons behind them,” says Dr Srikrishna Raghavendra Boddu, Consultant General Medicine, Kamineni Hospitals.
Hair fall may follow infections such as dengue or typhoid, or stem from PCOS, stress, crash dieting or genetics. Brain fog may be linked to poor sleep, anxiety, depression or medication side effects. “People should not assume these symptoms mean a vitamin deficiency and start tablets. It is better to see a doctor first, get examined, and do only the tests that are needed to find the actual cause,” he advises. Tests should be based on symptoms, diet and medical history, not routine packages that may trigger unnecessary investigations and self-medication. Dr Boddu also warns that biotin in hair and nail supplements can interfere with thyroid and other blood tests. Patients should disclose all supplements before testing.
BEYOND VITAMINS
l Probiotics: Gut health.
l Collagen: Skin and joint health.
l Omega-3: Heart and triglyceride health.
l CoQ10: Cellular energy production.
l Ashwagandha: Marketed for stress and sleep.
l NMN / NAD+ boosters: Studied for cellular health and ageing.
l Resveratrol: Studied for antioxidant properties.
Hair loss can stem from genetics, hormones, stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies or scalp disorders. Excess supplementation may worsen the problem. Vitamin supplements cannot reverse every type of hair loss.”
— Dr M Venkateswara Rao, Hair Transplant Expert
Laboratory and
animal findings do not establish benefits in humans. Large, long-term clinical trials proving lifespan extension are lacking. Exercise, sleep, balanced nutrition and control of metabolic risk factors have stronger evidence for healthy ageing.”
— Dr Navodaya Gilla, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine and Diabetologist
Biotin supplements can interfere with thyroid and other blood tests. Always disclose supplement use before testing.
— Dr Srikrishna Raghavendra Boddu, Consultant, General Medicine
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
