Supplements to Prevent Gray Hair: Do They Work?

Key Points:

- There's no proof that supplements can stop or reverse gray hair.

- Fixing health issues like stress or vitamin shortages might help with gray hair.


Gray hair is a normal part of getting older.
It can be affected by several things. Some medicines, health problems, and even vitamin deficiencies can cause hair to turn gray earlier. Stress can also play a role.1

Dr. Jonathan Zippin, a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, explained that gray hair is mostly hereditary.
He said, "Graying is definitely inherited. If your parents started graying early, you might too, but it's not always the same for everyone."

Even though we know some causes of gray hair, there isn't a way to stop it from happening.
Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York, said, "Unfortunately, there's currently no way to stop gray hair from growing."

Recently, many "anti-gray" supplements have become popular.
Some are claimed to make gray hair grow color again.

Here's what you need to know about these anti-gray supplements, including what's in them, if they really work, and what you should know before trying them.


What Causes Gray Hair?


Dr. Green explained that gray hair can be caused by changes in the body as we age.
One enzyme called catalase becomes less effective with time.2

This enzyme helps keep levels of hydrogen peroxide in check.
As catalase becomes less effective, hydrogen peroxide levels may rise.2

"When hydrogen peroxide levels go up, melanin production slows down, and hair loses its color," Dr. Green said.
This means that as we get older, the process that gives our hair color (melanin production) can be disrupted, causing hair to turn gray.

But aging isn't the only factor that can cause gray hair.
Dr. Green said, "Genetics, skin type, stress, medical conditions, and diet are some of the things that can affect how quickly someone starts to gray."

Some autoimmune diseases and health issues linked to gray hair include:1

- Cystic fibrosis
- Celiac disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Vitiligo
- Alopecia areata
- Some genetic conditions, like Werner syndrome, Louis-Bar syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, and Griscelli syndrome

Also, being low in certain vitamins and minerals may lead to gray hair.3

- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D3
- Calcium
- Iron
- Copper

Eating a vegetarian diet and having atopy - a condition where the body is sensitive to certain allergens - can also lead to gray hair growth.1

Just like people don't all age at the same time, they don't all start graying at the same age.


Dr. Green said, "Usually, people start to show signs of graying around 35 years old, but some may start earlier due to genetics.
People of African American descent tend to gray later, as they usually have more melanin."4