Q: I read in a newspaper that taking vitamin B-complex with zinc helps in controlling hair fall. So I started taking it since one week. Is it safe to do so? What will be the effect if the vitamin B-complex with zinc intake is more? Why is a combination of B-complex vitamin and zinc recommended for falling hair?

A:There is no harm in taking a combination of B-complex vitamins with zinc but there is no evidence that such products have any utility in controlling loss of hair. Please do not rely on reports in the lay press because they are not always correct. Sometimes such reports are sponsored by manufacturers. There is some evidence that anti-oxidant preparations (such as Vitexid) may help in improving general well being of most body functions including skin of the scalp. I hope you are not suffering from dandruff which is a common cause of hair loss.