L-Carnitine and Hair Loss: What's the Connection?

According to recent statistics, at least 20% of people under the age of 30 experience hair loss. When you start losing your hair, you may experience self-esteem issues and even depression. To most people, it’s a shock when they first notice their hair falling out.

There are a number of things that cause hair loss, from genetics to infections. However, what you must know is that in most cases it will grow back. Even though your hair may be falling out now, you can grow it back with proper treatment.

Otherwise known as alopecia, hair loss can affect either your scalp or your whole body. When you notice that you are losing hair rapidly and want to pursue treatment, it’s recommended that you talk with your doctor. There are also many treatments that you can do at home. Today, you’re going to learn how a dietary supplement called L-carnitine can help stimulate hair growth.

What Is L-Carnitine?

L-carnitine represents a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that your body produces from methionine and lysine. This compound can be found in various foods, but it’s most prevalent in meat. The main role of L-carnitine is to break down fatty acids and convert them into energy.

Since this nutrient is mostly found in meat, some vegans may experience L-carnitine deficiency if they’re not careful. You can reduce the risk of suffering from a deficiency if you take L-carnitine supplements. Supplementation is recommended if you are experiencing heart, kidney, or liver problems. Nevertheless, it can also help you in case you’re losing your hair.

L-Carnitine Promotes Hair Growth

There are a lot of hair growth products that don’t work as well as advertised. You should never try a product just because you saw a cool ad for it on TV. Instead, the best practice is to listen to what scientists and experts have to say.

In a study recently conducted at the University of Lubeck in Germany, it was concluded that the compound known as L-carnitine promotes hair growth. The experts who conducted the study noted that this compound is able to reduce hair cell death and stimulate hair shaft elongation. Their findings provide encouragement to the idea that more time should be spent on exploring nutraceutical and topical administration of L-carnitine.

There were 51 people involved in the experiment that was described in the study. They were aged between 21-60 and experienced at least mild hair loss. The researchers tested their theory by applying a solution that had 2% L-carnitine-L-tartrate to the scalp of every second person in the group two times per day. The other half of the people involved in the study were given a placebo.

What comes as no surprise is that the group that received the placebo didn’t show any increase in the number of hairs they have. On the other hand, the group that was given an L-carnitine solution saw a healthy increase in the number of hairs. The results were monitored after six months.

The great thing about L-carnitine is that it’s a safe supplement that doesn’t have any significant side effects. People who have liver or kidney problems, as well as young children and pregnant women should talk with their doctor before they start to take L-carnitine supplements.

If you’re currently taking anticonvulsants or antibiotics, it’s important that you consult with your healthcare professional whether you can also take L-carnitine. Although it is not a harmful side effect, around 4% of the people who take these supplements complain of a fishy body odor.

Three Additional Strategies for Healthy Hair Growth

The positive effects of L-carnitine on hair growth have been proven. Although this can be a great way to regrow your hair, it’s just one of the strategies that can help you. Here are some of the best and easiest ways you can improve hair thickness without breaking the bank.

Scalp Massage

Something as simple as massaging your scalp for several minutes each day can do wonders for your hair. Doing this will make your hair follicles stronger, which means that your hair won’t be falling out as much as it used to. Aside from the notable hair growth benefits of scalp massages, they also represent an excellent way to relieve stress.

Most people prefer to use their hands, but you can use a scalp massager as well. As mentioned in a Hair Guard article, you can even further boost the hair growth benefits of a scalp massage by combining it with essential oils. These oils have very strong chemical properties, making them an excellent tool for increasing hair growth speed.

It’s fairly simple to perform a traditional scalp massage. You apply light to medium pressure to your scalp with the fingertips of both hands and move them in small circles. Make sure you massage various parts of your scalp one at a time.

Eat Healthier

Nutrition plays a huge role in your skin, hair, and nail health. Your body requires certain nutrients so that it can provide your body with sufficient energy to stimulate hair growth. Your body mainly needs vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals to ensure healthy hair growth.

Some of the most important nutrients for a healthy head of hair include iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. You should also check your protein intake if you’re experiencing hair loss.

Vegans and vegetarians are more likely to suffer hair loss compared to meat-eaters because they don’t consume as much protein. It is recommended that you consume around 0.35 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Anything less than that may cause you to lose your hair and experience certain health problems.

Protect Your Hair From the Sun

Being exposed to the sun damages your hair, which is not something many people pay attention to when they’re sunbathing. Just as you would protect your skin in such cases, it’s important to protect your hair from strong sun as well. 

Wearing a hat is better than nothing, although most normal-sized models offer limited coverage and protection. Umbrellas are far superior in that regard, although they’re not as convenient for people on vacations that typically have their arms full of supplies.

Tall trees and big boulders that offer natural shade offer the most convenience for limited periods of time (until the sun rotates). Finally, you can give hair sunscreen a try – even cheaper products will help shield your scalp from direct sunlight.

Conclusion

L-carnitine is a naturally occurring nutrient that was recently shown to play a significant role in promoting hair growth. Researchers in Germany used a 2% L-carnitine-L-tartrate solution on a group of people in a successful experiment that revealed the effectiveness of this compound for hair growth. Apart from using an L-carnitine solution to reverse your hair loss problem, you should also try doing scalp massages every day and eating healthier.