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Hair Gain Capsules: What Are They & Do They Work?
Dr Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC)
Medically reviewed by
Dr Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC)
Updated on November 3, 2024

If you’re a woman with hair loss, you might have stumbled across Hair Gain Capsules online. These tablets are said to support hair health and even promote hair growth. So what’s the story when it comes to Hair Gain Capsules?

Here, we review the science behind Hair Gain Capsules to determine how effective they really are when it comes to promoting hair health. You’ll learn:

  • Whether Hair Gain Capsules can promote hair growth.
  • Whether Hair Gain Capsules have other benefits for your hair.
  • The impact of the ingredients of Hair Gain Capsules.
  • Alternative effective treatments to boost growth and enhance hair condition.
Table of Contents

What are Hair Gain Capsules?

Hair Gain is a relatively new brand of haircare products launched in 2018. Hair Gain Capsules were their first product to hit the market, and now many women have used them to improve their hair.

According to the Hair Gain website, Hair Gain Capsules are said to be “scientifically formulated to support healthy hair, the most advanced form of edible hair care.” 92% of people surveyed said they noticed improvements in their hair after using Hair Gain Capsules.

Study results as shown on Hair Gain website

According to our research, most vitamin supplements don’t promote hair growth unless you have a clinical nutritional deficiency that’s causing hair loss. So are Hair Gain Capsules any different? Let’s take a look at the ingredients to see the science behind these claims.

Ingredients of Hair Gain Capsules

Hair Gain Capsules contain certain ingredients that are said to be beneficial for hair, including biotin, vitamin E, and AnaGain™ (a phytonutrient derived from pea shoots). Here are some of the key ingredients and how they can help your hair.

AnaGain™

Pea shoots used to create AnaGain

AnaGain is the key active ingredient in Hair Gain Capsules. Derived from pea shoots, it’s said to increase expression of fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) and the noggin protein, both of which are essential for hair growth [1-2].

To date, only one study has explored the effectiveness of oral pea shoot extracts for hair growth. In this study, 95% of participants reported a reduction in hair loss after taking 100mg of AnaGain™ per day for two months [3].

These results are impressive, but there are a few key things to note:

  • Hair loss was evaluated by self-assessment, rather than physical measurements or clinician assessment.
  • The study was funded and sponsored by the company that formulated the AnaGain phytonutrient.
  • Only 21 participants (3 men and 18 women) completed the study.

A lot more extensive research is needed to confirm these findings, especially as most supplements are ineffective for promoting hair growth unless you have a deficiency.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) powder

MSM is a sulphur-containing compound that may help promote hair growth [11-13]. One study found that an oral MSM supplement could significantly improve the appearance and condition of hair at doses of 3 g and 1 g per day (this study was also sponsored by a world-leading manufacturer of MSM) [11].

However, other independent studies have also found promising links between MSM and hair growth, usually when MSM is combined with other ingredients [12-13]. Researchers have suggested MSM helps to stabilise and synergise protein-to-protein links within the hair fibre, while also potentially reducing inflammation.

Biotin

Foods rich in biotin

There are plenty of online claims that biotin is essential for hair growth — and it’s true. But supplements aren’t the best way to get the biotin you need for healthy hair.

Even if you have a clinical deficiency, evidence suggests supplementing with 900 to 20,000 µg of biotin each day can help promote hair growth — substantially more than the 200 µg found in two Hair Gain Capsules [4].

Instead, you need to eat plenty of biotin-rich foods to help your hair. Eating peas directly is a great way to consume biotin, as well as eating eggs, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms.

Vitamin E

Foods rich in vitamin E

Vitamin E for hair is unique in that it may actually help with hair growth if you have alopecia areata, even in the absence of a deficiency [5]. This is a type of non-scarring hair loss characterised by round bald patches on the scalp.

Alopecia areata is quite rare. But vitamin E may have other hair benefits, such as reducing oxidative stress that can contribute to hair shedding [5].

Be careful if you’re taking other vitamin supplements alongside Hair Gain Capsules, as too much vitamin E may cause toxicity that can actually increase hair loss [6].

Zinc

Zinc-rich foods

Zinc helps maintain follicle structure within the hair anatomy. It’s essential for cell division and keratin production, both of which are necessary for hair growth. Lack of zinc may lead to hair loss by contributing to the development of alopecia areata, male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss, and telogen effluvium [7].

That said, studies don’t support zinc supplementation for hair loss unless you have a clinical deficiency [8-9]. One small study did show that zinc supplements might make hair appear thicker (though there was only a minor change in hair count) [10].

Like other nutrients, it’s best to get most of your zinc intake through your diet. Zinc-rich foods include salmon, garlic, and shellfish.

Other ingredients

Certain other Hair Gain Capsule ingredients may also play a role in improving hair health, though there’s very limited research. For example:

  • Bamboo stem extracts may have an antioxidant effect on the hair [14].
  • Animal studies suggest vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) may help with hair follicle cell proliferation [15].
  • Topical niacin may improve symptoms of female pattern hair loss (though it’s unclear if oral niacin has the same effect) [16].

Are Hair Gain Capsules safe?

Because Hair Gain Capsules contain nutritional supplements, they’re likely to be safe if you don’t exceed the recommended intake (two capsules per day).

As with many supplements, you may experience negative side effects if you take too many.

Should you try Hair Gain Capsules?

While many Hair Gain Capsule ingredients do have promising benefits for hair, there’s little impartial evidence that consuming them in supplement form will help with hair loss. So if you decide to try them, you may not see miraculous improvements in your hair.

In addition, the cited studies of AnaGain’s benefits are very small and rely on self-assessment, which isn’t the most accurate way to measure hair growth. The best female hair loss treatments are backed by more substantial independent research. Let’s take a look at some of the options.

Which treatments promote hair growth in women?

The following therapies are proven to stop hair loss and stimulate regrowth in women:

  • Minoxidil2% Minoxidil is often recommended as a female hair loss treatment, as it can effectively boost hair growth while minimising the risk of side effects.
  • PRP hair treatmentPlatelet-rich plasma hair treatments contain essential growth factors that stimulate hair regrowth in women. 
  • Low-level laser therapy Low-level laser therapy uses light to encourage follicle cell proliferation without needles, surgery, or even topical solutions. 
  • Hair transplant Female hair transplants are the most successful way to achieve permanent hair regrowth in patients with female pattern hair loss.
  • SpironolactoneSpironolactone for hair loss is an effective treatment for menopausal hair loss, polycystic ovary syndrome, and certain other types of hormone-related alopecia.

Can women use Finasteride?

No, women are usually advised to avoid using Finasteride, as it can disrupt your menstrual cycle and cause foetal malformations in pregnant women. In some cases, postmenopausal women may be prescribed Finasteride to help tackle female pattern hair loss.

Speak to your GP or a reputable hair loss clinic for advice on taking Finasteride for women.

Diagnose and treat your hair loss at the Wimpole Clinic

Tired of trying quick-fix hair loss remedies that don’t give you the results you want? We get it. Female hair loss is often complex, with several underlying causes that can’t always be treated in a single tablet.

That’s why we ask all our female patients to undergo a thorough evaluation, including hair and scalp analysis, a hair pull test, and blood tests for hair loss. (Don’t worry — these aren’t as scary as they sound.) This ensures we have all the information we need to make an accurate diagnosis, so we can help you achieve your hair goals as quickly as possible.

Want to know more? Book a consultation at the Wimpole Clinic to speak to one of our hair specialists and get a personalised treatment plan for your hair loss.

Hair Gain Capsules: What Are They & Do They Work?, Wimpole Clinic

FAQs

Learn more about Hair Gain Capsules in these FAQs.

For men with male pattern baldness, Finasteride is the most commonly prescribed hair growth tablet. While Dutasteride may be more effective, it’s currently unlicensed as a hair loss treatment in the UK, so it’s less widely used.

Hair loss in women tends to be much more complex, so there’s no consensus on the best capsule or medication for hair loss. Instead, you’ll need to follow a personalised treatment plan for your specific hair problems.

Hair Gain doesn’t list any side effects of their Capsule product, and none were found in the AnaGain study. The ingredients tend to be well-tolerated by most people.

That said, it’s important to stick to the recommended daily intake to avoid taking too much of any of the ingredients.

Many women claim Hair Gain has given them a dramatic hair overhaul. These results may be valid, but take them with a pinch of salt — unlike clinical studies, these before and after images don’t include validated information like dosage, supplement duration, and whether they were also using any other hair loss products.

If you’ve seen any benefits from taking Hair Gain Capsules, these are likely to stop when you stop taking them.

Sources:
  1. Keratinocyte growth factor is required for hair development but not for wound healing
  2. Noggin is required for induction of the hair follicle growth phase in postnatal skin
  3. Short communication: Clinical evaluation of pea sprout extract in the treatment of hair loss
  4. A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss
  5. Effects of Tocotrienol Supplementation on Hair Growth in Human Volunteers
  6. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use
  7. Analysis of serum zinc and copper concentrations in hair loss
  8. Oral zinc sulphate in alopecia areata–a double blind trial
  9. The therapeutic effect and the changed serum zinc level after zinc supplementation in alopecia areata patients who had a low serum zinc level
  10. Comparing the Effects of Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Their Combination and Minoxidil Solution Regimens on Controlling Hair Loss in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  11. Beneficial Effects of a Sulfur-Containing Supplement on Hair and Nail Condition [1] A prospective, double-blind study in middle-aged women
  12. The Effect of Methylsulfonylmethane on Hair Growth Promotion of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate for the Treatment of Alopecia
  13. Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study of a Nutraceutical Based on Hyaluronic Acid, L-carnosine, and Methylsulfonylmethane in Facial Skin Aesthetics and Well-being
  14. Antioxidative and Anti-Melanogenic Activities of Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) via PKA/CREB-Mediated MITF Downregulation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells
  15. Pantothenic acid promotes dermal papilla cell proliferation in hair follicles of American minks via inhibitor of DNA Binding 3/Notch signaling pathway
  16. A pilot study evaluating the efficacy of topically applied niacin derivatives for treatment of female pattern alopecia
Dr Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC)
Medically reviewed by Dr Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC)Updated on November 3, 2024
The Wimpole Clinic offers FUE Hair, Beard & Eyebrow Transplants & Trichology.
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