The Relationship between Iron Deficiency and Hair Loss in 10 -45 Year Old Females in Qom Province, Iran

Background and Objectives: Iron deficiency is a highly prevalent problem in developing countries. One of the reasons for telogen effluvium is Iron deficiency. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between Iron deficiency and hair loss in Qom Province, Iran.Methods: This study was conducted in two separate stages. In the first stage, a cross- sectional, population-based study was performed. In the second stage, a case control study was carried out. The study was conducted during 2007 and 2008 on 10 to 45 year-old females in Qom Province. 2200 females in the first stage and 410 females in the second stage (205 females with telogen effluvium as cases, and 205 females without telogen effluvium as controls) were studied. Females with positive pull test and without exclusion criteria were considered as telogen effluvium. In both case and control groups, CRP and serum ferritin tests were done. Correlation of variables with hair loss and serum ferritin level was evaluated. Chi Square test, Student’s T test and Mann Whitney Test were taken for statistical analysis in SPSS ver. 16 software. Multiple logistic regressions were used for statistical modeling.Results: Median (range) of serum ferritin level in the case group was 18.7µg/L (0.7-174.5µg/L) but in the control group it was 22.1µg/L (2.8-167.9µg/L) (P=0.01). In 93 (45.4%) females of the case group and in 71 (34.6%) females in the control group ferritin level was lower than 15µg/L (P=0.02). In 1182 (53.7%) of 2200 female hair-loss was detected. In multivariate analysis older age and weight, being housekeeper and smoking were directly associated with hair loss. However, higher monthly income and possession of private house had opposite relationship with hair loss.Conclusion: Hair loss was a prominent problem in females in Qom Province and telogen effluvium was related to iron deficiency. In females in Qom Province, improvement of body iron resources with better nutrition style, administration of iron supplements and fortifying food with iron supplements is recommended