I have a friend whose 10 year old daughter has grey hair coming through at the temples. Has anyone any idea if this is simply genetic or is the child lacking some mineral or vitamin?

I have no idea; however,...

the late Carlton Fredericks had an "anti-grey hair formula" comprising:  copper, cobalt, PABA and pantothenic acid.

 PABA and pantothenic acid are two B-vitamins available in the U.S. over the counter.

"Cobalt" equates to Vitamin B12.

Be careful about copper:  it's sold, in the U.S., over-the-counter; however, supplementation can upset the important copper-zinc balance.

Your friend might try low dose supplementation with these four and see how things work out.

One other possibility is low stomach acid, which reduces the girl's ability to absorb these and other nutrients from her food.  Some U.S. doctors oriented to nutritional treatments can test for this.  I had the test done some years ago with a "Heidelberg capsule."  Digestive juices, along with other things,  tend to weaken as we age reducing our ability to absorb nutrients from food.

ajmcglynn:

I have no idea; however,...

the late Carlton Fredericks had an "anti-grey hair formula" comprising:  copper, cobalt, PABA and pantothenic acid.

 PABA and pantothenic acid are two B-vitamins available in the U.S. over the counter.

"Cobalt" equates to Vitamin B12.

Be careful about copper:  it's sold, in the U.S., over-the-counter; however, supplementation can upset the important copper-zinc balance.

Your friend might try low dose supplementation with these four and see how things work out.

One other possibility is low stomach acid, which reduces the girl's ability to absorb these and other nutrients from her food.  Some U.S. doctors oriented to nutritional treatments can test for this.  I had the test done some years ago with a "Heidelberg capsule."  Digestive juices, along with other things,  tend to weaken as we age reducing our ability to absorb nutrients from food.

For all connective tissue problems, of which hair colour is one. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) capsules are the answer. Gotu Kola contains all the necessary nutrients and minerals to put things right. A three months course of capsules should be enough for you to notice a difference. Log on to:- www.centellaprobe.co.uk for further information.

Hi There,

I got loads of white hair growing and I first of all thought it was to do with ageing, there was so many so soon that crept out of nowhere and i was getting more by the day, it didn't add up, i've red hair and didn't have one grey hair, then i found out through chance because my hair was falling out in handfulls and looked dead and my overall hair colour looked more like a mousey light brown colour with a tinge of red and i was so sick, i changed my doctor because the other one was never any help to me, the first thing my new doctor did was send for blood tests and gave me an overall health check and my blood came back that my iron level was dangerously low, i started my iron and within 3 months of taking it, the white hairs are dissapearing and my red hair coming through, i read afterwards that the ferritin in the hair is the last to go when the stores are used up in the liver, it makes sense to me now and a doctor at hospital backed it up too, i hope this is of some help to you, its worth getting her blood checked out anyway.

Elaine :)

It is most likely a nutrient deficiency, for people with a genetic predisposition. I have here that folate deficiency can cause prematurely greying hair (does she eat vegetables?). A children's multivitamin and mineral would cover all the nutrition bases. After that maybe try testing for other possible causes.

I agree about the mineral and iron deficiencies, this has been my own personal experience after losing massive amounts of blood over several years.  One thing to be sure of is to get a good quality supplement (ie Solgar, Lamberts or Quest).  The type of thing you get in a chemist is generally poor quality (ie sanatogen etc)

Hi Just my thoughts and experiences here-Has anyone mentioned thyroid problems?  can cause premature aging.   I agree a good multi-vitamin-mineral supplement can help.   Kelp hellped me   but then  I have heard seleinium is very good!!!

Hi,

Read somewhere a long time ago that greying hair occurs as a result of a deficiency in copper.

I'd be cautious about supplementing copper, since my understanding (as a Nutritional Therapist) is that a lack of the mineral zinc can cause prematurely greying hair.  And as already pointed out, zinc and copper are antagonistic.  Zinc is an extremely important mineral and children have a greater need because they are growing (and sexually maturing at that age).  Be careful just supplementing zinc though as nutrients work together in the body and 'mega' dosing of one may result in a deficiency of another.  A multi-vitamin and mineral is probably the best answer.