Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hair Loss in Patients with Gastroparesis: A Sign of Nutritional Deficiency in Gastroparesis?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Invited Commentary to this article was published on 28 February 2023

Abstract

Introduction

Some patients with gastroparesis (Gp) report hair loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of patient-reported hair loss in Gp patients, analyze hair loss association to severity of Gp and nutritional deficiencies, and study effects of multivitamin treatment on hair loss.

Methods

Patients with Gp were questioned about hair characteristics, Gp symptoms, and diet. Patients with hair loss had blood drawn for vitamin levels. Patients with hair loss were treated with daily multivitamin and assessed 8 weeks later.

Results

Hair loss was reported in 65 of 143 patients with Gp (45.5%), occurring similarly in idiopathic and diabetic Gp. Hair loss was most commonly noticed while washing and/or combing hair. Patients with hair loss had more severe nausea, abdominal pain, stomach fullness, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, bloating, retching, stomach distension, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and constipation. Hair loss patients lost more weight over prior 6 months. Patients with hair loss had similar gastric retention on gastric emptying scintigraphy. Overall, 29 of 61 (47.5%) patients with hair loss had at least one abnormal bloodwork result. After 8 weeks of treatment with a daily multivitamin, 17 of 41 (41%) patients had improvement in hair loss.

Conclusion

Hair loss occurred in 46% of patients with Gp, being associated with more severe symptoms, loss of weight, and several vitamin deficiencies, although not a specific one. Treatment with multivitamins improved hair loss in 40% of patients. Presence of hair loss in patients with Gp should prompt nutritional evaluation and supplementation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Parkman HP, Hasler WL, Fisher RS, American Gastroenterological Association. American Gastroenterological Association technical review on the diagnosis and treatment of gastroparesis. Gastroenterology 2004;127:1592–1622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hagopian GG, Johnson KP, Shahsavari D, Parkman HP. Meal eating characteristics of patients with gastroparesis. Dig Dis Sci. 2022;67:3872–3880. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-07190-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Parrish CR. Nutritional considerations in the patient with gastroparesis. Gastroenterol Clinic N Am. 2015;44:83–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ogorek CP, Davidson L, Fisher RS, Krevsky B. Idiopathic gastroparesis is associated with a multiplicity of severe dietary deficiencies. Am J Gastroenterol. 1991;86:423–428.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hind M, Almohanna A, Ahmed A, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A. The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review. Dermatol Ther. (Heidelb) 2019;9:51–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rentz AM, Kahrilas P, Stanghellini V et al. Development and psychometric evaluation of the patient assessment of upper gastrointestinal symptom severity index (PAGI-SYM) in patients with upper gastrointestinal disorders. Qual Life Res. 2004;13:1737–1749.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Revicki DA, Rentz AM, Dubois D et al. Development and validation of a patient-assessed gastroparesis symptom severity measure: the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;18:141–150.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tougas G, Eaker EY, Abell TL et al. Assessment of gastric emptying using a low fat meal: establishment of international control values. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:1456–1462.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Abell TL, Camilleri M, Donohoe K et al. Consensus recommendations for gastric emptying scintigraphy. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:753–763.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair loss: common causes and treatment. Am Fam Phys. 2017;96:371–378.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. Skin Appendage Disord. 2017;3(3):166–169.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Woodhouse S, Hebbard G, Knowles SR. Psychological controversies in gastroparesis: a systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23:1298–1309.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Hasler WL, Parkman HP, Wilson LA, NIDDK Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium et al. Psychological dysfunction is associated with symptom severity but not disease etiology or degree of gastric retention in patients with gastroparesis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010;105:2357–2367.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Paul J. Silver, Michael J. Coles & Henry P. Parkman

  2. Department of Dermatology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Candrice R. Heath

  3. Gastroenterology Section, Temple University School of Medicine, Parkinson Pavilion, 8th floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA

    Henry P. Parkman

Authors
  1. Paul J. Silver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael J. Coles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Candrice R. Heath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henry P. Parkman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

PJS contributed to study conceptualization, data interpretation, and revising the manuscript. MJC contributed to data interpretation and revising the manuscript. CRH contributed to study conceptualization, data interpretation, and revising the manuscript. HPP contributed to study conceptualization, patient recruitment, and writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henry P. Parkman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

An editorial commenting on this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-023-07853-0.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Silver, P.J., Coles, M.J., Heath, C.R. et al. Hair Loss in Patients with Gastroparesis: A Sign of Nutritional Deficiency in Gastroparesis?. Dig Dis Sci 68, 1397–1402 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-022-07803-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-022-07803-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation