Untangling the Link Between Gastroparesis, Micronutrient Deficiency, and Hair Loss

Excerpt

Gastroparesis is a disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying with cardinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and abdominal pain that can alter eating habits with downstream consequences of weight loss and malnutrition [1, 2]. Complications of gastroparesis such as small bowel bacterial overgrowth have also been reported [3], potentially causing malabsorption. Malnutrition is frequently associated with hair loss, thought mostly due to micronutrient deficiencies [4]. By the same reasoning, malnutrition due to gastroparesis is a potential risk factor for hair loss, although its actual prevalence and pathophysiological mechanism have not been well studied. There are multiple potential explanations for the association between hair loss and gastroparesis, including protein-calorie malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency. …