Answer:
Gray hair is a common condition that affects nearly 75% of adults between the ages of 45 and 65 (Panhard, Br J Dermatol 2012). While gray hair can be colored with hair dyes, many people are interested in reversing or delaying the progression of gray hair with supplements. But does any supplement really help?
Sign in as a member to learn what may help and what doesn't. We discuss the evidence for catalase enzymes, glutathione, iron, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu or fo-ti), spermidine, ubiquinone, and vitamins B-5, B-12, and C, as well as the hair products Mayraki and GR-7, used by "Don't Die" campaigner, Bryan Johnson.
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— 18 sources
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The following sources are referenced in this article:
- Brito, Sci Rep 2022
- Choi, Ann Dermatol 2016
- Han, Biomed Res Int 2015
- Haroon, Biomedicines 2023
- Ko, CrystEngComm 2013
- Lei, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015
- Madeo, Autophagy 2018
- No authors listed, Nutr Rev 1946
- Noppakun, Arch Dermatol 1986
- Panhard, Br J Dermatol 2012
- Pasricha, Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1981
- Pasricha, Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1986
- Roy, J Sex Med 2008
- Sehrawat, Pigment Int 2017
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Carla22116
March 02, 2025Every time I take Glutathione or NAC, I start to get *more* grey/white hairs. Same with Alpha Lipoic Acid. I’m not sure why this would be, but I’ve stopped and started enough over many years to notice a connection. I generally do not have much gray or white hair at 56 and take b-complex as well as zinc/copper.
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bonnie22044
February 22, 2025I don't have a supplement to recommend, but I absolutely do know that stress can make us gray. In med school, a late 20's fellow student with African-American hair would get white roots during and after school testing periods and then grow back black colored hair a couple months later. So the roots were dark while the ends were gray/white. This happened every exam cycle. When I got pregnant with lots of gray hair at 39, my roots turned dark again and grew like chia-pet, at least during the pregnancy.
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K M
February 20, 2025Which foods are highest in PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid)?
Great question! We've added information about this to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/can-any-supplements-reverse-gray-hair/supplements-for-grays/#paba-in-food
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Helen22023
February 20, 2025There is a significant genetic component related to graying. My husband at 69 only has a few white hairs, his younger brother has none, his mother died at 87 with only half-gray hair, and another maternal uncle had similarly black hair at an advanced age. It would be interesting to know what substances their gene variants code for.
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Jeffery22016
February 19, 2025My Mother lived to 80 and never got even a single gray hair. She had MS, so she took B vitamins since the age of 50, mostly B12.
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Laurie Tsitsivas22006
February 19, 2025I also thought taking a balanced B helped with my low amount of gray hair. But suddenly at holiday time 2024 I noticed increased gray hairs and I did not stop my supplement. Which Bs in the complex if any, were/are helping... I have no idea...well, we all know stress may play a role. I am 66 and not too much gray but I am worried that may be changing. Stress will only increase for me so hope is low.
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Shirley22003
February 19, 2025I am 88 years old and have no gray hair anywhere on my body. I take a lot of supplements, but not sure what makes the difference.
Ana22037
February 21, 2025Could be genetics
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Shirley22001
February 19, 2025I have been gray (white) for years and I started taking RESVERATROL and I have a lot of dark hair growing in. I am 79. I have been taking lots of supplements including B complex for years and never saw any difference in my hair color.
K M
February 20, 2025How much do you take?
Larry22056
February 23, 2025What brand of Resveratol do you take?
Brooke22057
February 23, 2025Hi Shirley, Would you mind sharing which brand resvaratrol you are taking?
Karen22637
April 27, 2025Karen7627
Hey Shirley, I'm interested in the brand of resveratol you used as well.
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raja21999
February 19, 2025I recently saw an article about luteolin reversing gray hair.
We are aware of an animal study showing possible benefit for hair graying (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11673595/), but we are not aware of research showing benefit in humans.
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Shannon17787
January 29, 2023After I had stem cell treatment to address Multiple Sclerosis, I noticed that my new growth went from about 80% gray to the opposite, about 80% dark. My hair also came in thicker and the texture also changed, creating some funky styling issues, but I was good with that. Since my first series of stem cells, my hair has gone back to gray, so I started taking a Catalase Supplement (Best Earth). I did not see much improvement in grays from the supplement, but it seemed to be helpful for thickness and overall luster. I am taking other supplements, though, so it's hard to know which is doing what.
Angela21997
February 19, 2025That is really interesting. Do you mind me asking where the stem cells were injected?
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Researcher
November 04, 2022I have been taking all the b vitamins for years. Age 72 and still have grey hair. Not everyone will have the same result pending as you mentioned your mothers late grey hair.
Katrina22008
February 19, 2025you still have gray hair or you still don’t have gray hair?
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Carol17779
October 21, 2022Is D-mannose safe and in what dosage?
Hi Carol, please see our CL Answer about D-mannose for more information about safety and dosages used in clinical studies https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/can-d-mannose-help-to-prevent-urinary-tract-infections/d-mannose-uti/.
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raymond17774
October 18, 2022A 90+ y/o acquaintance with white hair started taking D-mannose and grew in black roots.
Thank you for sharing this. However, we are unaware of any clinical studies showing that D-mannose is beneficial for graying hair.
Carol17775
October 30, 2022How long did it take for your acquaintance's hair to grow back black?
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Marcia17772
October 18, 2022I take all the B vitamins. I have for years. At 66 no gray hair. To be fair my mother got gray late, but all my sisters have gray hair (4).
Susan17773
October 28, 2022Is that the B-Complex vitamins? I'm age 43 and mostly gray hair.
Glyn22012
February 19, 2025I worry less about the hair color and more about hair loss. Wonder if minoxidil works.
See our discussion of minoxidil and other hair loss treatments in our article about hair loss https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/do-any-supplements-help-for-hair-loss/hair-loss/#minoxidil.
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