Biotin supplements and hair loss after weight loss surgery in women
What it found
Hair loss was common after weight loss surgery in 156 women, but taking biotin did not clearly reduce it.
The authors found no difference between women who were low in biotin and those who were not.
What they found
Studies in people
Hair loss after surgery
Hair loss happened in 72% of the women, which is 112 patients. Most noticed it between the third and fourth month after surgery. It lasted an average of 5.5 months.
No permanent hair loss
None of the women developed permanent baldness from the hair loss.
Biotin for deficient patients
Twenty-two women who lacked biotin took 1000 mcg per day for three months. Only five of them, or 23%, noticed a clear drop in hair loss.
Biotin without deficiency
Twenty-nine women with normal biotin levels chose to take 1000 mcg per day on their own for about 2.5 months. Eleven of them, or 38%, reported less hair loss.
Comparing both groups
The researchers compared the two groups of women taking biotin. They found no meaningful difference in how much hair loss improved.
What the authors conclude
- They say temporary hair loss is common after this type of weight loss surgery.
- They conclude that taking biotin to prevent hair loss offers very little benefit.
How it was done
The researchers wanted to find out how often hair loss happens after a specific type of weight loss surgery. They also wanted to see if taking biotin could help with that hair loss.
They followed 156 women for one year after they had sleeve gastrectomy surgery for obesity. The women were checked for vitamin shortages before and after the operation. Hair loss was based on the women reporting they were losing more hair than usual.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study only included women having weight loss surgery, so the results may not apply to other people losing hair.
- Hair loss was measured by what the women felt rather than by exact counts, which makes it harder to compare results.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Obesity Center, Turkey; Nişantaşı University, Turkey
The paper
- Title
- Hair Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy and Effect of Biotin Supplements
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Şen O, Türkçapar AG (2021). Hair Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy and Effect of Biotin Supplements. Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A. doi:10.1089/lap.2020.0468PubMed 32762597DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error