Why do some kids get gray hair early?
A study of micronutrient levels in premature canities in children
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No link between nutrient levels and severity of graying
People assume that the worse the deficiency, the grayer the hair—but this study found no such relationship, meaning nutrient levels don’t predict how much hair turns gray.
Practical Takeaways
If a child or teen has premature gray hair, consider checking serum levels of zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B12.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No link between nutrient levels and severity of graying
People assume that the worse the deficiency, the grayer the hair—but this study found no such relationship, meaning nutrient levels don’t predict how much hair turns gray.
Practical Takeaways
If a child or teen has premature gray hair, consider checking serum levels of zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B12.
Publication
Journal
Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology
Year
2022
Authors
D. Yadav, R. Chander, V. Mendiratta, E. Debnath, Kavita Bisherwal, Suparna Das
Related Content
Claims (7)
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.
Teens and kids with early gray hair tend to have lower levels of certain nutrients like copper, zinc, and vitamin B12 in their blood than other kids their age, but how gray their hair is doesn’t seem to match how low those nutrient levels are.
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.
Teens and kids with early gray hair are more likely to have low levels of certain nutrients in their blood, like copper and vitamin B12, compared to kids without gray hair—but the amount of gray hair doesn’t seem to relate to how low those nutrient levels are.