P#26  Reduction of iron reserves: a factor associated with severe hair loss in women

de Lacharrière O.1, Chadoutaud S.1, Deloche C.1, Bastien P.1, Deloche C.1, Galan P.2 and Hercberg S.2. 1L'Oréal Recherche, Clichy, France, 2SUVIMAX, ISTNA, Paris, France

Since several decades iron deficiency has been suspected of representing one of the possible causes of severe hair loss in women. The aim of our study was to verify this relationship in a very large sample of population, which have not been performed before. 5019 women aged between 34 and 61 years forming part of SUVIMAX national French epidemiological study, were involved. Hair loss was evaluated with the help of standardized questionnaires sent to all volunteers just after inclusion in the study. The iron status was assessed on the basis of a ferritinemia assay carried out in each volunteer before starting the study. Comparison of the mean ferritinemia levels relative to hair loss was carried out using variance analysis, taking into account the factors of age, menopause, use of contaceptive or intra-uterine device. Data analysis allows us to classify the women in three categories: "absence of hair loss" (44%), "moderate hair loss" (47%), "severe hair loss" (9%). Women suffering from severe hair loss displayed a mean ferritin level significantly lower than that in women unaffected with hair loss. Thus, among the women affected by severe hair loss, a much larger proportion of women (45%) had low iron reserves (<30mg/l) compared to the rest of the population (about one third). These results confirm, on a very large sample of population, sparse data reported in the literature. This relationship strongly suggests that a fall in body's iron reserves may be one of the factors implicated in the mechanisms involved role in women hair loss.