Vitamin D for Telogen Effluvium

Q: Does Vitamin D help with Telogen Effluvium?

Based on 34 studies with 17,842 participants, there is insufficient evidence at this time that Vitamin D may support Telogen Effluvium management. Our evidence grade is F (Evidence Against).

Q: How much Vitamin D should I take for Telogen Effluvium?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 600-800 IU/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Q: Are there side effects of Vitamin D?

Reported side effects may include Hypercalcemia at very high doses (nausea, vomiting, weakness), Kidney stones with excessive long-term use, Constipation, Metallic taste. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

Q: How strong is the evidence for Vitamin D and Telogen Effluvium?

We rate the evidence as Grade F (Evidence Against). This rating is based on 34 peer-reviewed studies with 17,842 total participants. The overall direction of effect is mixed.

Based on 34 studies (1 meta-analysis, 1 RCT) with 17,842 total participants. Results are mixed across studies.

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The Bottom Line

Despite frequent associations between low vitamin D and telogen effluvium, research does not clearly support vitamin D supplementation as an effective approach for this type of hair shedding.

Lower vitamin D levels are common in telogen effluvium patients but may not be the cause
No well-designed RCTs demonstrate that supplementation resolves telogen effluvium
Post-COVID hair loss studies show inconsistent findings regarding vitamin D
Correcting a deficiency is reasonable, but vitamin D alone is unlikely to resolve hair shedding

Key Study Findings

retrospective observational n=113

Telogen Effluvium Following Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infection: A Retrospective Study of 113 Cases.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: None None

narrative review

Addressing the Root Causes of Female Hair Loss and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: None None

Review

Safety First: A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Supplements for Hair Loss in Breast Cancer Patients.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: None None

Meta-analysis

Vitamin D deficiency in non-scarring and scarring alopecias: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: OR=2.84 (AA vs controls), OR=5.24 (FPHL vs controls) p<0.01

case-control study n=180

A comprehensive investigation of biochemical status in patients with telogen effluvium: Analysis of Hb, ferritin, …

Dose: not applicable vs: Placebo Effect: None None

meta_analysis n=10670

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in non-scarring alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dose: not applicable (observational meta-analysis) vs: Placebo Effect: WMD -7.29 ng/mL (95% CI -9.21, -5.38); OR for vitamin D deficiency 3.11 (95% CI 2.29, 4.22) not explicitly stated; CI does

Key Statistics

Studies

17842

Participants

↔

Mixed

Grade

Referenced Papers

Safety First: A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Supplements for Hair Loss in Breast Cancer Patients. Review

Nutrients 2025 2 citations

Telogen Effluvium Following Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infection: A Retrospective Study of 113 Cases. Other

International journal of … 2025

Addressing the Root Causes of Female Hair Loss and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions. Review

Journal of drugs … 2025

A comprehensive investigation of biochemical status in patients with telogen effluvium: Analysis of Hb, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, thyroid … Other

Journal of cosmetic … 2024 7 citations

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in non-scarring alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-Analysis

Journal of cosmetic … 2024 7 citations

Post Covid telogen effluvium: the diagnostic value of serum ferritin biomarker and the preventive value of dietary supplements. a case … Other

Archives of dermatological … 2024 5 citations

Vitamin D deficiency in non-scarring and scarring alopecias: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Review

Frontiers in nutrition 2024 4 citations

Filling the Gaps: Vitamin D Status in Diffuse Hair Fall Among Pakistanis. Other

Dermatology practical & … 2024

Etiology, management, and outcomes of pediatric telogen effluvium: A single-center study in the United States. Other

Pediatric dermatology 2023 9 citations

Micronutrient Deficiencies and Digital Computerized Phototrichogram Analysis in Telogen Effluvium: a Retrospective Correlation Study in a Tertiary Medical Center. Other

Dermatology practical & … 2023 4 citations

The development of non-scarring alopecia in women who wear the hijab. Other

Archives of dermatological … 2023 3 citations

Oral Vitamin D Treatment in Patients with Telogen Effluvium: Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation. Other

International journal of … 2023 1 citations

Telogen effluvium in daily practice: Patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, and treatment modalities of 3028 patients with telogen effluvium. Other

Journal of cosmetic … 2022 22 citations

The role of micronutrients in the management of COIVD-19 and optimizing vaccine efficacy. Review

Human nutrition & … 2022 9 citations

Nonscarring scalp alopecia: Which laboratory analysis should we perform on whom? Other

Turkish journal of … 2022 8 citations

Reply to "Vitamin D status in scarring and nonscarring alopecia". Other

Journal of the … 2022 6 citations

Evaluation of MCV/RDW Ratio and Correlations With Ferritin in Telogen Effluvium Patients. Other

Dermatology practical & … 2022 6 citations

Supplementation and hair growth: A retrospective chart review of patients with alopecia and laboratory abnormalities. Other

JAAD international 2022 6 citations

Telogen Effluvium - a review of the science and current obstacles. Review

Journal of dermatological … 2021 51 citations

Role of vitamin D in hair loss: A short review. Review

Journal of cosmetic … 2021 44 citations

Characteristics of telogen effluvium in COVID-19 in western Iran (2020). Other

Anais brasileiros de … 2021 26 citations

Prevalence of Low Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients Presenting With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review. Review

Cureus 2021 20 citations

Efficacy of Oral Vitamin D3 Therapy in Patients Suffering from Diffuse Hair Loss (Telogen Effluvium). Other

Journal of nutritional … 2021 12 citations

Telogen effluvium caused by COVID-19 in Elmhurst, New York: report of a cohort and review. Review

Dermatology online journal 2021 3 citations

Study of serum vitamin D levels in men with premature androgenetic alopecia. Other

International journal of … 2020 18 citations

Topical L-thyroxine: The Cinderella among hormones waiting to dance on the floor of dermatological therapy? Review

Experimental dermatology 2020 10 citations

NonScarring Diffuse Hair Loss in Women: a Clinico-Etiological Study from tertiary care center in North-West India. Observational

Journal of cosmetic … 2019 25 citations

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism In Chronic Telogen Effluvium; A Case-Control Study. Other

Clinical, cosmetic and … 2019 7 citations

The Role of Vitamin D in Non-Scarring Alopecia. Review

International journal of … 2017 61 citations

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Patients With Telogen Effluvium: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Other

Journal of drugs … 2016 56 citations

Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Referral Center. Other

International journal of … 2016 28 citations

Use of Vitamins and Minerals in the Treatment of Hair Loss: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Dermatologists in Saudi Arabia. Other

Journal of cutaneous … 2014 10 citations

Serum ferritin and vitamin d in female hair loss: do they play a role? Other

Skin pharmacology and … 2013 127 citations

'Atrophic telogen effluvium' from cytotoxic drugs and a randomized controlled trial to investigate the possible protective effect of pretreatment with … RCT

The British journal … 2005 40 citations

Dosage & Usage

mg = milligrams · mcg = micrograms (1,000× smaller) · IU = International Units

Commonly Used Dosages

general:: 600-800 IU/day
deficiency:: 1,000-5,000 IU/day

Upper limit: 4,000 IU/day

Dosages Studied in Research

Dosage	Duration	Effect	N
None	--	Neutral	113
None	--	Positive	--
None	--	Mixed	--
None	--	Negative	--
not applicable	--	Mixed	180
not applicable (observational meta-analysis)	--	Negative	10670
None	--	Mixed	100
None	--	Neutral	120

Best taken: With a fat-containing meal for optimal absorption

Safety & Side Effects

Reported Side Effects

⚠ Hypercalcemia at very high doses (nausea, vomiting, weakness)
⚠ Kidney stones with excessive long-term use
⚠ Constipation
⚠ Metallic taste

Known Interactions

● Thiazide diuretics (may increase risk of hypercalcemia)
● Corticosteroids (reduce vitamin D absorption and metabolism)
● Orlistat and cholestyramine (reduce fat-soluble vitamin absorption)

Tolerable upper intake: 4,000 IU/day

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vitamin D help with Telogen Effluvium?

Based on 34 studies with 17,842 participants, there is insufficient evidence at this time that Vitamin D may support Telogen Effluvium management. Our evidence grade is F (Evidence Against).

How much Vitamin D should I take for Telogen Effluvium?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 600-800 IU/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Are there side effects of Vitamin D?

Reported side effects may include Hypercalcemia at very high doses (nausea, vomiting, weakness), Kidney stones with excessive long-term use, Constipation, Metallic taste. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

How strong is the evidence for Vitamin D and Telogen Effluvium?

We rate the evidence as Grade F (Evidence Against). This rating is based on 34 peer-reviewed studies with 17,842 total participants. The overall direction of effect is mixed.

Related Evidence

Other ingredients for Telogen Effluvium

Minoxidil A Black Seed Oil A Viviscal A Iron B Omega-3 Fatty Acids B Keratin B

Vitamin D for other conditions

Alopecia Areata A Female Pattern Hair Loss A

Quick Verdict

Based on 34 studies (1 meta-analysis, 1 RCT) with 17,842 total participants. Results are mixed across studies.

Evidence Strength10%

Low confidence

Study Breakdown

RCT (1)Meta (1)Other (32)

Compare Alternatives

See how other ingredients compare for this condition.

View all ingredients for Telogen Effluvium

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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The evidence grades presented are based on our analysis of published peer-reviewed research and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.