Study Links Intermittent Fasting to Slower Hair Growth in Mice and Humans

Chinese researchers observed delayed hair regrowth in fasting mice, with milder effects noted in a small human trial.

A study from Westlake University in China found that intermittent fasting slowed hair regrowth in lab mice, with fasting groups taking up to 96 days compared to 30 days for the control group.
The researchers attribute this effect to oxidative stress caused by the body's shift from carbohydrate to fat metabolism during fasting, which affects hair follicle stem cells.
A small clinical trial involving 49 human participants fasting for 18 hours daily showed an 18% reduction in hair growth compared to a control group, though the effects were less pronounced than in mice.
The study's authors caution that the sample size and duration of the human trial were limited, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about widespread impacts.
Despite the findings, researchers emphasize the overall health benefits of intermittent fasting but advise awareness of potential unintended side effects like slower hair growth.