Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Not So Hairy Situation...

L.A.

By L.A.
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted

Does anyone have some advice for me? I have been gluten-free for 4 years. I've had my hormone levels checked and they're fine. My calcium, iron (I'm on iron supplements for anemia), thyroid have been checked and are also fine...so why is my hair failing out?

I use gluten-free shampoo and do not seem to have any other food issues.

Also, having a hard time putting on wieght--is this normal? :unsure:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

Check your B12 levels ... that's frequently a major reason for hair loss :(

Hope it gets better soon.

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
Check your B12 levels ... that's frequently a major reason for hair loss :(

Hope it gets better soon.

Ooops, forgot to mention...B12's are good too. :rolleyes:

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Are you a man or woman :)

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
Are you a man or woman :)

LOL, a female :)

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I think that having a hard time putting on weight is normal. I certainly have trouble with it.

As for the hair, I really don't know. I'm having a hair analysis done to see what my mineral levels are. I'm doing it through my doctor who also practices alternative medicine. I've read about a lab in a book I'm reading (Tired of Being Tired -- great book), www.gsdl.com. I have not been to the website, but this is the place the author of the book, who is an MD, recommends. I don't know if a mineral analysis woult tell you more or not.

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
I think that having a hard time putting on weight is normal. I certainly have trouble with it.

As for the hair, I really don't know. I'm having a hair analysis done to see what my mineral levels are. I'm doing it through my doctor who also practices alternative medicine. I've read about a lab in a book I'm reading (Tired of Being Tired -- great book), www.gsdl.com. I have not been to the website, but this is the place the author of the book, who is an MD, recommends. I don't know if a mineral analysis woult tell you more or not.

I did some research and found that Saw Palmetto oil extract is supposedly good for the scalp and hair loss so am trying that--started yesterday. About the weight thing, why is it so hard to put in on--I'm 5'2" and weight 99 lbs. Prior to my celiac diagnosis I was 110 lbs...

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


daffadilly Apprentice
daffadilly
Posted

Even if your B12 levels are okay, you need to take a B12 everyday.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted
Even if your B12 levels are okay, you need to take a B12 everyday.
Why?
lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

Are you [sure that you are] eating a balanced diet of proteins/carbohydrates/good fats?

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
Are you [sure that you are] eating a balanced diet of proteins/carbohydrates/good fats?

I try to eat well balance meals--I am also a diabetic, so my meals are geared to that as well.

emcmaster Collaborator
emcmaster
Posted

Do you have the lab results for your thyroid tests? Doctors notoriously fail to treat patients that have very high, yet still in the normal range, TSH levels. If yours are high, you are probably experiencing the same symptoms that someone actually out of the normal range might be experiencing. Hair loss is a big symptom.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted
I try to eat well balance meals--I am also a diabetic, so my meals are geared to that as well.

Okay! :)

Just making sure, as malnourishment of any sort can be a catalyst in that. As a diabetic (you, not me) I am sure you are extremely aware of your intake! I hope you figure it out.

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
Do you have the lab results for your thyroid tests? Doctors notoriously fail to treat patients that have very high, yet still in the normal range, TSH levels. If yours are high, you are probably experiencing the same symptoms that someone actually out of the normal range might be experiencing. Hair loss is a big symptom.

I just called and made an appointment to go see the Doc and go over all my results--thanks! :)

All-about-March Newbie
All-about-March
Posted

What about any medications you may be on? Some medications list alopecia as a side effect (usu. reversible). I know that one medication I'm on is the culprit for my hair loss!

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
What about any medications you may be on? Some medications list alopecia as a side effect (usu. reversible). I know that one medication I'm on is the culprit for my hair loss!

I'm not on any new meds and this is a fairly new problem. Real frustrating--but thanks for the ideas :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,330
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.