Lower Levels of Copper and Calcium Identified in Patients with Premature Greying of Hair

Meta-Analysis highlights Lower Levels of Copper and Calcium in Patients with PGH

In 2020, Chang and Sun et out to evaluated the studies addressing the association between serum minerals and premature greying of hair. The used five case–control studies involving a total of 285 patients with PHG and 255 controls  in their analysis. All in all, patients with premature greying of hair were found to have lower levels of calcium and copper  compared to controls. Levels of iron and zinc were not found to be different.

Conclusion

This study is interesting. It’s not clear if copper and calcium are truly implicated in the pathogenesis of premature greying or not. It’s plausible that they are.

Copper helps in the process of melanogenesis. Specifically, tyrosinase is a copper-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-tyrosine into levodopa. This is said to be the rate-limiting step of melanogenesis.

In addition, calcium also plays a role in melanogenesis. Calcium is an important cofactor for various protein kinase C isoforms which have a critical role in melanogenesis through the phosphorylation and activation of tyrosinase. 

It’s theoretically possible that deficiency of these minerals may adversely influence the physiology of melanogenesis in hair and contribute to premature greying. More studies are clearly needed.

REFERENCE

Chang H-C and Sung C-W. Association between serum levels of minerals and premature hair graying: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2020 Oct;59(10):e378-e380.