Looking good is good business. Many people take pride in their hair and it becomes devastating when their hair starts falling at a high rate. To solve the issue of hair loss, different hair growth products flood the markets. However, most are not as efficient as they claim.
Hair loss is commonly caused by ageing, however, an acute loss of hair is a nuisance. Healthy hair follicles are flexible and shiny but unhealthy hair follicles are dull and brittle. Many factors contribute to hair loss. They include; genetics, aging, medications, hormones such as DHT and testosterone, radiation, diet, and scalp hygiene.
Another rare cause is the use of blunt hair cutting scissors.
Vitamin K2 is proven to be an excellent remedy for hair loss. There are many misconceptions about the use of vitamin K2 in the prevention of hair loss. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the consumption of vitamin K2 for hair loss.
How Does Hair Grow?
The process of hair growth is a complex network of biochemical processes. Hair follows a specific growth cycle with three distinct phases namely Amagen, Catagen, and Telogen. Hair grows at different speed and length.
The first phase of hair growth is where the hair grows in length. The second phase is the transitional phase where the hair follicle renews itself and the last phase is the resting or shedding phase where the hair follicle remains dormant.
What Causes Acute Hair Loss?
There are two major causes of acute hair loss:
High Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Level
Hormones are necessary for the body for normal function. However, when they are secreted in large quantities, it becomes a problem as the body finds it difficult to adapt to such changes.
A high level of DHT in the body causes hair loss, especially pattern baldness. It is usually secreted from its precursor testosterone and becomes dominant in the body when its secretion from the precursor is high.
The hormone testosterone and its derivative DHT are usually present in high levels in males. This is the reason why hair loss is more common in males than in females. It has been shown that more than 55% of women and 85% of men across the world suffer from hair loss.
Calcification of Scalp
The scalp may become calcified by the action of some hormones which acts to block testosterone. Generally, these hormones tend to deposit a large number of calcium in the skull and this deposition causes a decrease in blood flow to the scalp. With the blockage of blood supply, the hair follicles shrink from lack of nutrients, and this causes hair loss.
Although calcium is a vital mineral for our body’s effective functioning, high secretions can interfere with the body’s physiological functions as evident in scalp calcification leading to hair loss.
Considering Vitamin K2 for Hair Loss?
It is well known that a balanced diet contains an adequate amount of all the classes of food, vitamins, inclusive. Without the ingestion of a proper amount of vitamins, a condition known as hypovitaminosis may arise. Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient needed for the coagulation of blood. It can help in regeneration and regrowth of hair strands thus preventing hair loss.
As shown earlier, the high level of dihydrotestosterone which is dominant in males but also present in females can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, this can be treated with a vitamin-rich diet with vitamin K2 as the major proponent. Vitamin K2 helps us to control the amount of calcium intake which can lead to scalp calcification, a high deposit of calcium in the skull, this causes hair loss.
Vitamin K2 plays a synergistic role, together with the right dosage of calcium, to effectively manage our testosterone level. Vitamin K2 stimulates Matrix GLA protein in our body. This protein can efficiently inhibit the calcification of the scalp and prevent the loss of blood supply to it.
Thus, it is necessary to take in vitamin K2 which counteracts the effects of calcium in skull calcification.
Dietary intake of Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 should be included in the diet to supplement its activities in the body. Some foods rich in vitamin K2 are curd, butter, whole milk, raw salmon, matured cheese, or other fermented vegetables like kefir, sauerkraut, etc. Eggs (especially the yolk) and meat (mostly organs and fat of chicken and beef) are rich in vitamin K2.
Finally, remember that vitamin K2 has no toxic effect on the body. Although it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is not stored in the liver. To care effectively for your hair and prevent acute hair loss, eat more foods rich in vitamin K2. This will protect your hair without any systemic side effects.
