Over time, our hair turns gray. Gray hair is a characteristic mark of aging, generally considered irreversible. Only the use of colour agents hides the gray hair away, but does nothing to treat the cause of the disorder. Graying hair is older, less healthy hair whose structure is altered.
Why does our hair turn gray?
Colour emerges in human hair by accumulation of a pigment called 'pheomelanin' in the hair follicle cells. Production of this dark pigment requires the presence of high levels of antioxidants and antioxidant precursors such as cysteine and amino acids like tyrosine. Low antioxidant levels give a free hand to free radicals. Unopposed free radicals interfere with pheomelanin production. They damage amino acids such as the cysteine and antioxidants necessary for the natural hair colour. Any drop in the concentration of cysteine at the hair roots will result in reduction of glutathione (a powerful antioxidant for hair). At excessive free radical levels, the tendency to form the gray eumelanin pigment is higher. Free radicals are molecules that contain oxygen, which is highly reactive and may injure surrounding tissues.
Gray hair, signs of wisdom or declining health?
By catching their first gray hair, individuals of age 40 and above my acquire a more imposing presence. We tend to consider them as wiser, more experienced, having something more serious in them. Their increase in wisdom might be true, but what is certainly true, is that the onset of gray hair, as well as the development of wrinkles is linked to a decline in health. Gray hair and wrinkles reflect the intensity of the attacks by free radicals. Having gray hair is not benign. It means that health is no longer optimal.
The Danish epidemiologist Schnohr and his team showed a reduction of 19% of deaths among people without gray hair compared to those of the same age whose hair is graying. The higher mortality of subjects with gray hair is mainly due to a higher incidence of myocardial infarction. People with patches of gray hair, the so-called 'salt and pepper' hair, present a 40% superior risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction). In subjects with completely gray hair, this risk doubles.
Dietary Changes That May Recolour Hair
Cereal elimination diets may recolour the hair. The first thing to do when gray hair appears is to stop eating foods based on (unsprouted) grains. Elimination of grains in diet is strict for patients with digestive disorders or suspicion of cereal intolerance (celiac disease). Anecdotal reports of gray hair reversal after stopping grains are reported in the scientific literature. Therefore, avoid bread, muesli, porridge (oat), pasta for 6 months to see its effects on the hair. Food allergy tests can also help to confirm allergy to grains, but not all types of cereal intolerance appear in these tests. So the best approach is to do a trial of total avoidance of all grains
Nutritional Therapies That May Recolour Hair
The second intervention to restore hair colour in graying hair is to try topical nutritional treatments. Several nutritional supplementation have been reported to moderately recolour gray hair.
- Oil rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, gamma-linoleic acid)
- Copper
- Zinc
- PABA (para-amino-benzoic acid)
- Vitamin B12
- Biotin
- Phenylalanine (contraindicated in patients with phenylketonuria)
- Tyrosine
- Cysteine
- Methionine
Hormone Therapies That May Recolour Hair
- MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone)
- Thyroid hormone T3
- Testosterone
- Growth hormone
The above supplementation have been reported to slow down or reduce graying hair but in clinical practice the results are not convincing enough often due to genetics predisposition of the subjects. Nevertheless, by improving the nutritional and hormonal health of the person and enhancing scalp micro-circulation, we could at least eliminate factors which cause premature graying of the hair.
