Whey protein is a high-quality complete protein commonly used in protein shakes and can be part of any nutritious meal plan to prevent malnutrition-related hair loss.
There’s been a lot on concerns regarding whey protein’s impact on hair, ie. hair loss. These concerns seem to have risen, most of all, because of baldness of some pro body builders, however there are some feedbacks from amateurs claiming increased hair loss when on whey protein supplementation and reduced effects when off. We’ll try to address those concerns.
Where did it all come from?
Although a lot of whey protein users are concerned whey protein has an impact on their hair loss, there’s actually no scientific evidence confirming those concerns. As already mentioned, those worries might have risen because of baldness of some pro athletes, who at least presumably, use lots of whey proteins.
Additionally, there was some feedback from dr Sh. Who claimed whey protein isolate (WPI) can cause hair loss, but vitamin enriched whey protein concentrate (WPC) was suppose to support hair growth. Those claims were supported by surveys not real scientific research and, when combined with the fact that vitamin enriched WPC was a product dr Sh. tried to sell, there’s concern that his statement wasn’t totally unbiased. In regards to pro body builders or other athletes, ordinary users tend to forget that pros provide a lot of other supplements as well, this includes hormones and, sometimes, steroids or steroid-like products.
Is whey protein safe for my hair?
According to medical researches heredity is the main reason of hair loss. Second are hormones, like testosterone which forms dihydrotestosterone (DHT), primary contributing factor to male pattern baldness. There’s no scientific evidence of whey itself stimulating testosterone production, therefore whey cannot influence hair loss. There is, however, a link partially confirming whey protein supplements may have an impact on it. It’s cholesterol in some of those supplements. It’s sometimes added and sometimes a product of insufficient purification of whey protein supplements. Cholesterol may have a negative influence on overall health, especially cardiovascular system, but stimulates testosterone production, which is desired, as testosterone aids muscles growth. There’s however a disadvantage of it – increased levels of dihydrotestosterone damaging hair.
Conclusion
Whey itself doesn’t influence hair loss. Make sure, however, that the supplements you buy are free of cholesterol, which may be linked with hair loss. Hypothetically you may be an individual, who due to heredity may be affected in one way or another, but yet again, it has more to do with heredity, than whey itself. Just to make you aware, there have been a few researches confirming creatine, another quite popular supplement, can have an impact on hair loss.
