Anirva sells Hair Radiance with Probiotics, a dietary supplement. This article shares research for general education and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
B vitamins are often called the "hair vitamins," and many hair products list several of them. So it is natural to wonder which ones matter, and whether folic acid or a B-complex could help thinning hair. The B vitamins help your body turn food into energy and build new cells, which hair follicles do constantly. That said, the research on B vitamins and hair is thinner than the marketing suggests. Here is what the studies show for the ones people ask about most.
In this article
Key Takeaways
- Folic acid has not been shown to help hair loss. A 2019 review found folate levels were similar in people with and without common kinds of hair loss.
- Vitamin B12 showed the same pattern. Levels were similar in people with and without hair loss, in the studies reviewed.
- Biotin helps when you are low in it, which is uncommon with a varied diet.
- Niacin is needed for energy use, but the NIH fact sheet does not list a hair effect.
- B vitamins still matter for your health, especially folic acid for women who could become pregnant, and B12 for older adults.
What B Vitamins Do
There are eight B vitamins, and they work as a team to help the body turn food into energy. Some also help build new cells. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements explains, for example, that the body needs folate to make DNA and for cells to divide. Hair follicles make new cells all the time, which is why B vitamins are often linked to hair.
Knowing that a vitamin is needed for cell growth is different from knowing that extra amounts help hair grow, though. That second question is what the studies below try to answer.
Does Folic Acid Help With Hair Loss?
Folic acid is the form of folate used in supplements and fortified foods. A 2019 review in Dermatology and Therapy looked at studies that measured folate in people with common kinds of hair loss. It found no significant difference in folate levels compared with people without hair loss. The review concluded there was not enough data to recommend folic acid supplements for hair.
The NIH notes that a true folate deficiency can cause changes in the color of the skin, hair or fingernails. Deficiency is uncommon in the US, partly because folic acid is added to many grain products.
Folic acid is still important for other reasons. The NIH advises all women who could become pregnant to get 400 mcg of folic acid a day from supplements, fortified foods or both. It also notes that large amounts of folic acid can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. The adult upper limit for folic acid is 1,000 mcg a day.
Vitamin B12 and Hair
The same 2019 review found no significant difference in vitamin B12 levels between people with common kinds of hair loss and people without. It also found too little data to recommend B12 supplements for hair. The NIH B12 fact sheet does not list hair changes among the signs of deficiency.
B12 is still worth knowing about. Adults need 2.4 mcg a day. The NIH lists older adults, vegans, people who have had stomach surgery, and people who take metformin or acid-reducing medicines as more likely to run low. Signs of low B12 include tiredness, weakness, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
Biotin and Hair
Biotin (vitamin B7) is the B vitamin most linked to hair. When someone is truly low in it, thinning hair and brittle nails are among the signs. A 2017 review found 18 reported cases where biotin helped hair or nails, and every person had an underlying condition, such as a biotin deficiency. The 2019 review added that biotin's benefits for hair have not been shown in large studies. Our article on how much biotin you need covers doses in detail.
Niacin and Hair
Niacin (vitamin B3) helps the body use energy from food. The NIH niacin fact sheet does not list an effect on hair. Adults need 14 mg (women) to 16 mg (men) a day, and the upper limit for supplements is 35 mg. Niacin comes in two supplement forms, and the NIH notes that the form called niacinamide (nicotinamide) does not cause the skin flushing that nicotinic acid can.
Is a B-Complex Good for Hair?
A B-complex supplement contains several B vitamins together. It can be a sensible choice if your diet is limited, or if a doctor finds you are low in one or more B vitamins. For hair on its own, the research does not show that a B-complex helps people who already get enough. The 2019 review found the clearest benefit for B vitamins in hair is when a true deficiency is corrected.
B Vitamins at a Glance
| Vitamin | Adult Daily Amount | What the Hair Research Shows | Hair Radiance (3 capsules) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folate / folic acid (B9) | 400 mcg DFE | Levels similar in people with and without hair loss; not enough data to recommend | Not included |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.4 mcg | Levels similar in people with and without hair loss; not enough data to recommend | Not included |
| Biotin (B7) | 30 mcg | Helps when low; not shown in large studies | 3,000 mcg |
| Niacin (B3) | 14–16 mg | No hair effect listed by the NIH | 20 mg (as niacinamide) |
Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; Almohanna and colleagues, 2019; Patel and colleagues, 2017.
B Vitamins Are One Part of Hair Radiance
Hair Radiance contains two B vitamins: 3,000 mcg of biotin and 20 mg of niacin, as niacinamide. It does not contain folic acid or vitamin B12. If you need those, for example folic acid before pregnancy, or B12 as an older adult, a doctor can suggest the right amount from a separate source.
Good to Know
If You Are Deciding
It can help to start with the cause of your hair change. Nutrients with a clearer link to shedding, such as iron, vitamin D and zinc, may be more useful to check first. A doctor can also check B12 if you are older, vegan or on medicines that lower it.
If you choose a supplement with B vitamins, look at the amount of each one and count them across all your products. Hair grows about half an inch a month, according to MedlinePlus, so give any change a few months.
The Short Version
B vitamins help the body make energy and new cells, so they are often linked to hair. The research, though, has not shown that folic acid or B12 supplements help hair loss. A 2019 review found similar levels in people with and without it. Biotin helps when you are low in it, and niacin has no listed hair effect. B vitamins still matter for health, especially folic acid before pregnancy and B12 for older adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does folic acid help with hair loss?
Is a vitamin B complex good for hair?
Can low B12 cause hair loss?
Which B vitamin matters most for hair?
Does niacin help hair growth?
How much folic acid should I take?
References
- Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A. The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov DOI 10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6; PMID 30547302.
- Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. Skin Appendage Disord. 2017;3(3):166-169. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov DOI 10.1159/000462981; PMID 28879195.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Folate: Fact Sheet for Consumers. ods.od.nih.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12: Fact Sheet for Consumers. ods.od.nih.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Niacin and Biotin: Fact Sheets for Health Professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. Hair Problems. medlineplus.gov
Hair Radiance with Probiotics
Biotin and niacin, part of a full formula
Vitamins, minerals, Ayurvedic herbs and three probiotic strains — each with its own labeled amount, at or above the Daily Value.
See Hair Radiance →Written by the Anirva Editorial Team | Reviewed by [REVIEWER NAME AND CREDENTIAL REQUIRED] | Last reviewed: September 29, 2026
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
