Recent research has highlighted that intermittent fasting may slow hair growth due to oxidative stress affecting hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). Studies conducted on mice showed that those subjected to intermittent fasting, whether through time-restricted feeding or alternate-day feeding, exhibited significantly slower hair regrowth compared to those with unrestricted food access. This was linked to increased apoptosis in HFSCs, as these cells struggled to manage oxidative stress during the metabolic switch from glucose to fat utilization. A small clinical trial involving 49 healthy young adults also pointed towards a similar trend, with an observed 18% reduction in hair growth speed during an 18-hour fasting regimen.
While the adverse effects observed in mice were more pronounced due to their higher metabolic rates, researchers suggest that humans may experience milder impacts, with potential for continued hair regrowth albeit at a slower pace. The study’s findings indicate that antioxidant treatments, such as topical vitamin E, could potentially mitigate these effects. Future research is planned to further explore the implications of fasting on various stem cells in skin and other tissues and identify metabolites that could promote hair growth during fasting periods.
