Hair Loss
kelley4avon
Posts: 20 Member
I've been sticking to a 1,200 calorie, low carb, high protein diet for 6 months and I've lost over 60 lbs. One month in, my liver enzymes went through the roof, so I have to stick to a low fat diet, too, doctor's orders. Low fat and low cab is not easy. Now I've started losing my hair. It's gotten so thin in spots and it's hard to cover up. I see a nutritionist tomorrow. Has this happened to anyone else?
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Replies
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So you're basically just eating protein?
Maybe try eating a more balanced diet?5 -
Well, you are fairly low calorie, averaging over 2lbs a week. Considering that, with the combination of lower fat, I am not surprised you are losing hair. You are probably deficient in some vitamins (which a blood test can evaluate), which can effect things. Personally, I'd increase carbs and more important calories to around 1600 calories, because right now your maintenance is more than 2200. Heck, it might be worth refeeding by going up to your maintenance level for two weeks and then coming back with a smaller deficit.4
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I second spending some time eating at maintenance, at least two weeks. By the time your hair starts falling out you are deep into underfeeding and undernourishing territory. Hair falling out means you've been deficient in something for a while, it's not an instantaneous response.
I would also see a dietician not a nutritionist.13 -
Why are you eating low carb? Why are you eating only 1200cals?5
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VintageFeline wrote: »I second spending some time eating at maintenance, at least two weeks. By the time your hair starts falling out you are deep into underfeeding and undernourishing territory. Hair falling out means you've been deficient in something for a while, it's not an instantaneous response.
I would also see a dietician not a nutritionist.
I third this2 -
My dietician put me on 1200 calories and no carbs, but I do end up eating about 75 grams of carbs a day. My gastroenterologist put me on low fat because of bile duct blockages. He agreed with the dietician about the low calorie and low carb diet. My family doctor is fine with this, too. Im seeing the nutritionist tomorrow hoping to get my blood work done to see what I'm missing. Im hoping it will grow back. I was hoping to hear from someone who's gone through this. If it grew back.0
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kelley4avon wrote: »My dietician put me on 1200 calories and no carbs, but I do end up eating about 75 grams of carbs a day. My gastroenterologist put me on low fat because of bile duct blockages. He agreed with the dietician about the low calorie and low carb diet. My family doctor is fine with this, too. Im seeing the nutritionist tomorrow hoping to get my blood work done to see what I'm missing. Im hoping it will grow back. I was hoping to hear from someone who's gone through this. If it grew back.
They should be tapering your deficit as you become more lean and should probably incorporate refeeds. But its obvious something isnt working. And if you have bile issues, then you should increase carbs.4 -
So the dietician will be far more thoroughly qualified than the nutritionist so why the switch?
I'm going to guess with all of the treatment team being in agreement you are significantly obese?1 -
Hair loss can be attributable to undereating or malnutrition. You are eating a very restrictive diet. I certainly hope you are treating some pretty serious health issues by eating this way, otherwise I would suggest getting a second opinion.0
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your body is not getting the nutrition it needs0
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Many things can contribute to hair loss, like sudden weight loss or change in diet, stress, age, genetics, hormones. It's hard to say if it's diet alone without seeing history and physical evaluations....no carbs is not good. Carbs provide important energy to body and brain, low carbs is good for diabetics and weight watchers if your not getting enough excercise. I would switch nutritionist, everything has carbs unless your eating just protein, and if that's all your doing it's not healthy or sustainable. You can do high protein low carb and fat and balance out your diet and start moving/exercising daily. I experienced hair loss but mine is postpartum, hormone tanking after baby lol. I recommend a good multivitamin at 1200 calories, that's what I do. Hope it clears up, sounds like your body is just adjusting to diet tho......
good look in your journey!!
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Definitely get yourself checked out by a physician. Could be diet or could be any one of numerous other illnesses that evidence as hair loss. I have alopecia and my hair falls out in small round patches. Unconnected with deficit.4
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VintageFeline wrote: »So the dietician will be far more thoroughly qualified than the nutritionist so why the switch?
I'm going to guess with all of the treatment team being in agreement you are significantly obese?
I'm 213. The dietician and nutritionist work together. That's why I see both of them.2 -
Hair loss can be attributable to undereating or malnutrition. You are eating a very restrictive diet. I certainly hope you are treating some pretty serious health issues by eating this way, otherwise I would suggest getting a second opinion.
It's been incredibly difficult. The doctor's don't want me eating carbs, not even brown rice, because I have polycystic ovarian syndrome. The gastro doctor wants me on low fat because of high liver enzymes and recurrent bile duct blockages. (Unbelievably painful!) The weight had been falling off, but I'm getting tired of egg whites.0 -
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What about adding supplements? Multivitamin and a multimineral.0
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kelley4avon wrote: »Hair loss can be attributable to undereating or malnutrition. You are eating a very restrictive diet. I certainly hope you are treating some pretty serious health issues by eating this way, otherwise I would suggest getting a second opinion.
It's been incredibly difficult. The doctor's don't want me eating carbs, not even brown rice, because I have polycystic ovarian syndrome. The gastro doctor wants me on low fat because of high liver enzymes and recurrent bile duct blockages. (Unbelievably painful!) The weight had been falling off, but I'm getting tired of egg whites.
I'm sorry that you're struggling
. It seems like the doctor and dietician are both giving you diet recommendations that don't work together. It might be a stupid question, but have you told them how limited your diet has become and that you are losing hair? Is it possible to get a second opinion? I'm obviously not a medical professional, so perhaps it's necessary, but at the least they should be able to find a diet for you that doesn't lead to its own problems. Best of luck, I hope you can get on an easier path soon. 3 -
kelley4avon wrote: »Hair loss can be attributable to undereating or malnutrition. You are eating a very restrictive diet. I certainly hope you are treating some pretty serious health issues by eating this way, otherwise I would suggest getting a second opinion.
It's been incredibly difficult. The doctor's don't want me eating carbs, not even brown rice, because I have polycystic ovarian syndrome. The gastro doctor wants me on low fat because of high liver enzymes and recurrent bile duct blockages. (Unbelievably painful!) The weight had been falling off, but I'm getting tired of egg whites.
You can have carbs even with PCOS. Depending on the person, they can shoot for 140g or less. But ultimately, dietary compliance is going to be hard if you dont have either carbs or fats. They are sources of fuel. Protein sucks as fuel. Add in low calorie and you have a bad recipe. They probably need to find some happy medium.
Did you GI tell you a range on fat or limit of where the fat comes from?1 -
I had my hair fall out from under-eating. For a while I was losing hair by the handful and then it started growing back again. It took ages though. (Or maybe just seemed to, it's kind of distressing!)
It seems to me, that both low carb and low fat is impossible. Whilst people with pcos often go low carb, not all do. And the bile duct blockages would seem like the more pressing issue. In my, absolutely unprofessional opinion, I'd try for a low fat diet at a reasonable deficit and see how you go for month. If you don't lose, lower the deficit a little, repeat etc.
Good Luck!1 -
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counting_kilojoules wrote: »I had my hair fall out from under-eating. For a while I was losing hair by the handful and then it started growing back again. It took ages though. (Or maybe just seemed to, it's kind of distressing!)
It seems to me, that both low carb and low fat is impossible. Whilst people with pcos often go low carb, not all do. And the bile duct blockages would seem like the more pressing issue. In my, absolutely unprofessional opinion, I'd try for a low fat diet at a reasonable deficit and see how you go for month. If you don't lose, lower the deficit a little, repeat etc.
Good Luck!
Thank you!0 -
One list of some potential nutritional causes:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
And one that says that a long-term high protein diet can impair over function (among other things), which suggests that might be something to think about. It doesn't, however, say what they consider long-term.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045293/0 -
kelley4avon wrote: »Hair loss can be attributable to undereating or malnutrition. You are eating a very restrictive diet. I certainly hope you are treating some pretty serious health issues by eating this way, otherwise I would suggest getting a second opinion.
It's been incredibly difficult. The doctor's don't want me eating carbs, not even brown rice, because I have polycystic ovarian syndrome. The gastro doctor wants me on low fat because of high liver enzymes and recurrent bile duct blockages. (Unbelievably painful!) The weight had been falling off, but I'm getting tired of egg whites.
You can have carbs even with PCOS. Depending on the person, they can shoot for 140g or less. But ultimately, dietary compliance is going to be hard if you dont have either carbs or fats. They are sources of fuel. Protein sucks as fuel. Add in low calorie and you have a bad recipe. They probably need to find some happy medium.
Did you GI tell you a range on fat or limit of where the fat comes from?
He didn't give me a range, but I see his PA on Tuesday. I felt silly worrying about something so superficial, but maybe my body is trying to tell me something. I really appreciate your advice.0 -
Athena98501 wrote: »One list of some potential causes:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
And one that says that a long-term high protein diet can impair over function (among other things), which suggests that might be something to think about. It doesn't, however, say what they consider long-term.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045293/
I'll read that. Thank you!1 -
kelley4avon wrote: »Athena98501 wrote: »One list of some potential causes:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
And one that says that a long-term high protein diet can impair over function (among other things), which suggests that might be something to think about. It doesn't, however, say what they consider long-term.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045293/
I'll read that. Thank you!
No problem. A full thyroid panel could be helpful as well, if you haven't had one recently.0 -
I lost a lot of hair towards the beginning of the year. This was caused by significant stress which also caused a loss in appetite and as a result, undereating. It has now started growing back again. Just eat at maintenance for a bit and then once you notice regrowth make slight calorie reductions and aim for slower weight loss. Losing your hair is just one symptom of undernourishment and that one is nowhere near as problematic as others, like brittle bones.1
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I second a full thyroid check too, Im shedding hair like mad due to hypothyroid (started meds in August due next bloods in couple of weeks no improvement in symptoms as yet) so is defo worth having it checked1
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@lizery: Spoken like a person who's not had doctor after doctor only offer cursory evaluations, and misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis. It's not an uncommon problem, and as with any vocation (mechanics, police/corrections officers, teachers, childcare providers, lawyers, counselors, etc), many put in too little effort to perform their job truly effectively, and some are going to be sub-par despite their best efforts.
No one questioned the Gastroenterologist's recommendation, but simply inquired as to a limit or range, which he was neglectful not to provide. A "no carb" recommendation is irresponsible at best, and would lead to a ridiculous number of nutrients deficiencies, which she isn't being monitored for. She said she "hopes" to get bloodwork done to check, meaning she'll have to request it, and she didn't actually specifically say it was an RD. All of that said, excessive protein is absolutely contraindicated in an individual with liver issues.
Many people have had to learn how to find reliable sources of additional information in order to get the tests and treatment they've needed, and guidance from people with that experience can be helpful. The responses here were solicited, and none of the advice is faulty.11
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