According to a recent research, intermittent fasting, a common weight-loss and fitness fad among “health-freaks,” may inhibit hair regrowth. Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), which are crucial for hair regeneration, may be adversely affected by limited eating patterns, according to study headed by stem cell biologist Bing Zhang of Westlake University in China and published in the journal Cell.
Due of their significantly quicker metabolisms than humans, mice were used in the majority of the study’s tests. Hair regeneration was slowed in mice given rigorous feeding regimens, such as eating within an eight-hour window or switching between feast and fast days. Fasting animals took up to 96 days to exhibit partial regrowth, but normal mice regained the majority of their hair in 30 days.
How HFSCs adjust to changes in metabolism is the issue. The body switches from using glucose as its main energy source to burning fat when food intake is reduced. Fatty acids are released into the circulation as a result. Oxidative stress results from HFSCs’ inability to effectively metabolize these fatty acids. This stress causes the cells to self-destruct, which slows down the creation of new hair. Although mice were the subject of the study, scientists think people might potentially experience the impact, albeit to a lesser extent because of slower metabolism.
What Are the Options?
Increasing antioxidants may help counteract this impact, the researchers discovered. Their studies revealed encouraging outcomes when they used topical vitamin E or increased antioxidant levels through genetic modifications. This implies that the effect of fasting on hair health may be lessened by striking a balance between it and adequate nutritional consumption.
Zhang said that different people may react differently to intermittent fasting depending on their lifestyle, food, and genetic makeup. Although intermittent fasting is still a common method of weight loss, doctors advise being aware of any possible negative effects and making sure your food is well-balanced to promote general health.
It is strongly advised that anybody thinking about intermittent fasting speak with a healthcare provider to create a customized plan.
