Targeted Nutritional Supplementation for Telogen Effluvium: Multicenter Study on Efficacy of a Hydrolyzed Collagen, Vitamin-, and Mineral-Based Induction and Maintenance Treatment

BACKGROUND: The condition of the hair is closely related to the nutritional state. Normal supply, uptake, and transport of nutrients are of fundamental importance in tissues with a high biosynthetic activity such as the hair follicle. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a nutritional-based induction and maintenance treatment for telogen effluvium formulated with a combination of hydrolyzed collagen, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical studies were conducted with each nutritional treatment individually, and both in sequential combination. Anagen/telogen ratio, hair density, and tolerability of treatment were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks of induction therapy, and another 12 weeks of maintenance treatment. Trichogram results showed a significant improvement of the anagen/telogen ratio between baseline and final visit at 16 weeks, with an increase of hair in anagen and a reduction of hair in telogen. Furthermore, a significant increase was observed in hair density. The effect size of the combination treatment was higher than that of each of the two products used separately as monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study results provide a proof of concept for targeted nutritional supplementation for the treatment of telogen effluvium, with a special emphasis on the role of collagen, besides specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.