Teens and kids with gray hair early tend to have less zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B12 in their blood than other kids their age — maybe these nutrients have something to do with why their hair turns gray sooner.

Kids and teens with gray hair early tend to have less zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B12 in their blood than other kids their age who don’t have gray hair yet—so maybe these nutrients have something to do with why their hair turns gray sooner.

Kids who start getting gray hair earlier than normal are more likely to be missing important vitamins and minerals like B12, iron, and zinc compared to other kids.

People who start going gray earlier than most tend to have less vitamin B12 in their blood and are more likely to be deficient in it than others their age.

Kids and teens with gray hair early on have the same levels of copper, iron, vitamin D, and folic acid in their blood as kids without gray hair—so these nutrients probably aren’t why their hair turned gray.

People who go gray too early might have low levels of copper, iron, or vitamin B12—these nutrients might help keep hair its natural color.