Does Nutrafol Work for PCOS Hair Loss? A Dietitian’s Review

Does Nutrafol work for PCOS hair loss? The Nutrafol advertisements and testimonials sound so promising but does it work if your hair loss is caused by PCOS? 

As a registered dietitian, I’m going to dive into what causes PCOS hair loss, how Nutrafol may be able to help, and who should consider trying Nutrafol for your PCOS hair loss. 

What is Nutrafol? 

Nutrafol is a US-based company that sells dietary supplements designed to help combat hair loss. They carry various formulas designed for women aged 18 to 44, women aged 45 and older, postpartum women, and men. This post focuses on formulas designed for women. 

Nutrafol states that it conducts its own clinical studies and that women report:

• Thicker hair volume
• Less hair shedding
• Hair that grows faster, stronger, and longer
• Visibly thicker lashes and brows
• Reduced feelings of stress and supported sleep quality
• Improved feelings of menopause like hot flashes, sleep, and mood (for women aged 45 and over)

The recommended dose is four capsules daily and it’s recommended that you take it for a minimum of 3 to 6 months to start seeing effects.

Let’s discuss what’s in these supplements and how it may benefit PCOS hair loss. 

What’s In Nutrafol? 

Here’s what’s inside each dose of Nutrafol for women aged 18 to 44 years old:

• Vitamin A: 1500 mcg RAE (167% daily value)

• Vitamin C: 100 mg (111% daily value)

• Vitamin D: 62.5 mcg (2500 IU = 313% daily value)

• Vitamin E: 3.5 mg (23% daily value)

• Biotin: 3000 mcg (10000% daily value)

• Iodine: 225 mcg (150% daily value)

• Zinc: 25 mg (227% daily value)

• Selenium: 200 mcg (364% daily value)

• Synergen Complex: a patented proprietary formula that contains marine collagen, ashwagandha, saw palmetto, curcumin, palm fruit extract, and hyaluronic acid. 

• Nutrafol Blend: a proprietary blend of amino acids (protein), keratin, horsetail extract, Japanese knotweed extract, black pepper and cayenne extracts.

The Nutrafol supplement for women aged 45+ contains slightly lower amounts of vitamin E, biotin, and zinc. Similar to the one for ages 18 to 44 years, it also contains the Nutrafol Blend. It does not contain the same Synergen Complex proprietary blend though. Instead, it contains a patented blend called Synergen Complex Plus that provides a blend of maca root, saw palmetto, ashwagandha, marine collagen, turmeric, palm fruit extract, and microalgae. 

Let’s dive into how these ingredients may benefit PCOS hair loss. 

Nutrafol Benefits for PCOS Hair Loss 

If you have PCOS hair loss, there’s several reasons why it may be happening and you really want to investigate why you’re experiencing hair loss before you decide on how to combat it. 

Hair loss in PCOS can be driven by several root causes such as high androgens, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, and chronic stress. Nutrafol includes several nutrients and plant compounds that may support these underlying mechanisms.

Nutrafol for PCOS Hair Loss Root Cause

Here’s how some ingredients could help, depending on the cause of your hair loss:

Root Cause	How It Contributes to Hair Loss	Nutrafol Ingredients That May Help	Notes
High Androgens (elevated testosterone, DHT, or DHEA-S)	High androgen levels can shrink hair follicles and shorten the growth phase of hair, leading to thinning or shedding (known as androgenetic alopecia).	Zinc, Vitamin D, Selenium, Saw Palmetto, Curcumin	Zinc, selenium, and vitamin D may modestly reduce androgen levels and support hormone balance. Saw palmetto and curcumin have been shown in small studies to block DHT or lower testosterone, but the amounts in Nutrafol’s proprietary blend are unknown.
Nutrient Deficiencies	Low levels of iron, zinc, vitamin D, or protein can slow hair growth or trigger shedding.	Biotin, Vitamin D, Zinc, Marine Collagen, Amino Acids	Nutrafol includes some helpful nutrients, but not all (e.g., no iron, folate, or B12). If your hair loss stems from a deficiency, you may need additional supplementation beyond Nutrafol.
Thyroid Dysfunction (especially Hashimoto’s)	Hypothyroidism slows hair growth and can lead to brittle or thinning hair.	Selenium, Iodine	Selenium (200 mcg) can support thyroid hormone conversion and may reduce thyroid antibodies in Hashimoto’s. However, the added iodine may worsen thyroid function for some — a consideration for anyone with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Insulin Resistance / Blood Sugar Imbalance	Poor insulin sensitivity can impair circulation to the scalp and affect follicle health.	Vitamin D, Curcumin	Both nutrients can support insulin sensitivity and help reduce inflammation that may interfere with healthy hair growth.
Stress and Cortisol Imbalance	Chronic stress increases cortisol, which can trigger telogen effluvium (temporary shedding) or worsen hormonal imbalances.	Ashwagandha, Curcumin	Ashwagandha supports stress resilience and has been shown to reduce cortisol levels; curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that may support hair health indirectly.

Ultimately, Nutrafol has a variety of ingredients that target multiple potential pathways that can contribute to PCOS-related hair loss, especially androgen excess and stress. However, Nutrafol’s effectiveness will depend on which factors are driving your hair loss and whether the ingredient doses are clinically meaningful.

Pros of Nutrafol 

• Third Party Tested. The supplement industry isn’t regulated like foods and drugs are. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate or approve of any dietary supplements, their labeling, or health claims. It’s not uncommon to find supplements on the market that don’t actually have what they’re advertising inside their supplements. Thankfully, Nutrafol supplements are third party tested for purity and quality by the reputable company NSF. 

• Well Researched Nutrients. It actually uses good nutrients in this dietary supplement that do have research to support their use for certain types of hair loss.

• Uses Good Nutrient Forms. Nutrafol utilizes forms of vitamins and minerals in their supplement that are easily absorbed and typically well tolerated. 

• Potential One-And-Done Purchase. If this is the right option for you, it can be a cost-effective, one-and-done supplement purchase, rather than purchasing separate supplements that come in varying quantities.

Cons of Nutrafol

• Possibly Unnecessary. While the marketing is appealing to someone struggling with hair loss, if your hair loss is caused by an iron deficiency, this supplement isn’t going to fix your issue. You also may not need all of these nutrients in the doses they’re being provided. Vitamins are often regarded as safe and natural, but excessive intake of certain nutrients can actually be toxic and dangerous.

• Potentially Inadequate Dosage. While Nutrafol contains a lot of beneficial ingredients in their proprietary blends, it’s impossible to know how much of each of those ingredients are in that blend. Is the dose enough to actually provide benefits? Unknown. Additionally, if your hair loss is mostly being driven by a significant vitamin D deficiency, the amount of vitamin D in Nutrafol may not be enough to actually correct that deficiency anytime soon.

• Cost. Nutrafol is expensive – it will cost you $79 per month. There are discounts available if you purchase a 3 or 6 month supply at one time, but this requires a larger upfront cost commitment. 

• Four Capsules Serving Size. The serving size is 4 capsules daily. This may not be a con to you, but it’s just something to be aware of if you’re trying to decrease your daily pill load or if you struggle with swallowing pills.

Does Nutrafol Work for PCOS Hair Loss?

Maybe — but it depends on the cause of your hair loss.

Nutrafol isn’t a “PCOS-specific” supplement, and there are no clinical trials testing Nutrafol specifically in women with PCOS. However, some of its ingredients have been shown in research to support hair growth or hormone balance in women with PCOS or androgenic alopecia.

Here’s what the current evidence suggests:

• If your hair loss is androgen-related: Nutrafol may help. Zinc, selenium, vitamin D, saw palmetto, and curcumin can all support androgen balance or DHT reduction to some degree.

• If your hair loss is due to nutritional deficiencies: Nutrafol might help partially, but it doesn’t address iron, folate, or B12 — all of which are important for hair growth.

• If thyroid dysfunction is involved: The selenium could be helpful, but the iodine is something you may need to be extra cautious with, particularly if you have Hashimoto’s.

• If stress is a trigger: The ashwagandha extract in Nutrafol could support cortisol balance and stress resilience, which may reduce shedding over time.

• If insulin resistance is contributing: Vitamin D and curcumin may offer modest benefits, but these are not likely to be strong enough on their own to resolve insulin-related hair loss.
  

The Bottom Line

Nutrafol includes several well-studied nutrients that can support hair and hormone health, but it’s not a guaranteed fix for PCOS hair loss. The effectiveness of Nutrafol depends on what’s driving your hair loss. Additionally, since ingredient doses in its proprietary blends are undisclosed, it’s hard to know whether they’re provided in therapeutic amounts.

If you’ve already addressed underlying issues such as iron deficiency, thyroid imbalance, or low vitamin D and are still noticing excessive shedding, Nutrafol may be worth trying for 3-6 months. But for best results, it should supplement, rather than replace, a comprehensive plan that includes a healthy and balanced diet, blood sugar management, and stress support.

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Disclaimer: this is for informational purposes only. It does not substitute for or replace professional medical advice for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or any other health conditions. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your health and dietary supplements.