https://doi.org/10.46889/JDR.2024.5208 https://athenaeumpub.com/journal-of-dermatology-research/ Review Article Adequate Nutrition and Premature Hair Graying: A Review of Literature Rajveer Kaur 1 , Kiranjeet Kaur 1* 1 Chitkara School of Health Sciences, Chitkara University, Punjab, India *Correspondence author: Kiranjeet Kaur, Associate Professor, Chitkara School of Health Sciences, Chitkara University, Punjab Campus, Chandigarh-Patiala National Highway (NH-64), Patiala-140401, India; Email: kiranjeet.kaur@chitkara.edu.in Abstract People nowadays are very much concerned about their appearance and personality traits. Among these, hair colour plays an imperative role in overall look and adds to aesthetic value in this modern era of cosmetology mutiny. Hair graying whether timely or premature has a direct pessimistic impact on one’s social well-being. However, in latter the management of hair graying is believed to have significant and direct impact on the quality of life in adolescents. The hair cycle responsible for pigmentation of hairs is dependent on multiple factors viz. enzymes, pH, excessive stress, hormones, hereditary causes, sedentary lifestyle and nutritional deficiencies. Of these, if considered carefully, macronutrients and micronutrients obtained from diet in human body are playing an immense role directly or indirectly in normal hair cycle. A caloric deprivation or deficiency of these dietary components can lead to structural abnormalities in hair as well as pigmentation changes. In this review, an effort is being made to understand the role of various vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants in canities. A broad literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar was performed to compile the information available in research as well as review articles. As per the available data, it can be suggested that there is direct relationship between the low levels of copper, iron and vitamin B12 and PHG. However, reaching a defined conclusion seemed unlikely because of limitations in studies related to the above-mentioned scenario. Keywords: Antioxidants; Trace Elements; Nutrition; Premature Hair Graying; Vitamins Introduction Lustrous hair is one of the major attributes of healthy-looking people who takes good care of their body and looks. The hair and scalp conditions have psychosomatic impact on human society. A minor change in one’s look viz. premature hair graying, slow growth, less density or hair fall can have an effect a negative impact on the self-esteem of an individual [1]. Hair, a thin fibre like structure present on epidermal layer of skin, is made of protein “keratin” and hair colour chiefly depends on melanin pigment and fabrication of this pigment takes place in melanosomes through the process of melanogenesis [2]. With age, the hair strand characteristics like fibre elasticity, cuticle layers, diameter and color changes [3]. The depigmentation of hair or “canities” with age is one of the significant physiological phenomena; while Premature Hair Graying (PHG) is the condition in which graying occurs before the normal ageing process [1]. Knowledge on PHG is coupled with major concept of partial or complete loss of melanogenesis that leads to the production of pheomelanin as well as eumelanin. The studies conducted in this direction identify multiple factors acting alone or in combination leading to PHG. Various internal (auto-immune diseases) and external factors [Ultraviolet (UV) Rays, REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS), smoking, lifestyle, stress, nutrition, cosmetics and hair care products] are known to be associated with PHG worldwide [4]. Though, previous studies have indicated the hidden role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as one of the major players behind PHG; still the baseline phenomenon is poorly understood leading to the lack of solutions [5]. At present, the only available solution appears to be the application of temporary hair colorants. Ironically, the use of dyes even being the most common has various side effects such as allergic reactions, inflammation, hair loss etc. Thus, there is an urgent need to come up with better alternative approaches to combat PHG which can be applied as a preventive or curative measure. Nutrition, defined as chemical compounds present in food, provides a key contribution for the active metabolism of hair follicles [6]. It is worthy to note that apparent deficiency of a single nutrient has a cascading effect on optimum utilization of multiple Citation: Kaur R, et al. Adequate Nutrition and Premature Hair Graying: A Review of Literature. J Dermatol Res. 2024;5(2):1-8. https://doi.org/10.46889/JDR.2024. 5208 Received Date: 02-07-2024 Accepted Date: 24-07-2024 Published Date: 31-07-2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) license (https://creativecommons.org/li censes/by/4.0/).