What Your DNA Says About Thinning Hair
(+ the CODE Complex™ nutrients that can help bring it back)
Hair thinning often creeps up slowly; you might notice a wider part or more strands in your brush. While hair loss and genetic testing might not initially come to mind, understanding the connection between your DNA and thinning hair is crucial. Hair loss and genetic testing can reveal underlying factors like inflammation, hormonal imbalances, detox challenges, or nutrient shortfalls, guiding you toward targeted solutions tailored to your unique genetic needs.
At SNiP Nutrigenomics, we take a personalized approach to hair and scalp health. Our advanced genetic testing identifies where your body needs more support, and our CODE Complex™ formulations deliver it, matching key nutrients to your gene expression to restore balance from the inside out.
What Genes Can Tell Us About Hair Loss
Genes tested through SNiP Nutrigenomics give you insight into methylation, detoxification, oxidative stress, vitamin metabolism, and mitochondrial energy—all of which are closely tied to hair growth and resilience.
GSTP1 (rs1695): How Detoxification and Estrogen Metabolism Affect Hair Loss
The GSTP1 gene plays a key role in phase II detoxification. When functioning optimally, this gene helps eliminate toxins and estrogen metabolites that can damage hair follicles. If this gene variant is slowed, your body may struggle to keep up with the demands of daily exposures like BPA, formaldehyde, air pollution, or chemical hair treatments. In these cases, oxidative damage and inflammation can accumulate around hair follicles, increasing the likelihood of hair loss.
Research supports the connection between impaired GSTP1 activity and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and hormonal buildup.
CODE Complex™ includes nutrients like quercetin, resveratrol, S-acetyl glutathione, and broccoli powder. These help support detoxification, combat oxidative stress, and improve hormone balance—all foundational to healthy hair retention and regrowth.
MTHFR (rs1801131 and rs1801133): Folate, Methylation, and Their Role in Hair Loss
MTHFR is one of the most well-known genes in the methylation cycle. When the function is reduced due to common variants, your body may struggle to convert folate into its usable form (5-MTHF). Poor methylation can result in elevated homocysteine, sluggish detox, hormone imbalance, and inefficient nutrient delivery to hair follicles. These issues may compromise the hair growth cycle and reduce the integrity of hair fibers.
A growing body of literature, including this study, highlights the role of folate and B vitamins in supporting the cellular processes behind strong, healthy hair.
SNiP’s MTHFR-targeted blend includes Quatrefolic® (bioactive folate), trimethylglycine (TMG), and choline—three powerful cofactors that help restore optimal methylation and nutrient flow to hair-building tissues.
NQO1 (rs1800566): How Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Detox Impact Hair Loss
The NQO1 gene helps your cells recycle oxidized CoQ10 and supports detoxification pathways in energy-rich tissues like the scalp. A less efficient variant of this gene may reduce the availability of antioxidant enzymes needed to protect mitochondria within hair follicles. Over time, this can result in cellular fatigue, slow regrowth, and hair shaft fragility.
Scientific evidence supports NQO1’s role in managing oxidative stress and preserving mitochondrial vitality.
The NQO1-focused formula in CODE Complex™ includes CoQ10, bamboo leaf extract (rich in silica), and astaxanthin, an antioxidant known for protecting cells under high metabolic demand, including those in your scalp and skin.
VDR (rs2228570): Vitamin D Activation and Its Essential Role in Hair Follicle Cycling
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene controls how your body uses vitamin D, essential for immune regulation and stem cell activity in hair follicles. Reduced VDR function can impair follicle cycling, particularly during stress, immune dysfunction, or low sun exposure. This may contribute to thinning hair or slow regrowth.
A 2015 study published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine demonstrated how VDR signaling is necessary for initiating the hair growth cycle.
The VDR blend in CODE Complex™ contains vitamin D3, K2, and calcium, which optimize vitamin D metabolism and help regulate inflammatory responses at the follicular level.
SOD2 (rs4880): Antioxidant Defense in the Scalp and Its Impact on Hair Loss
SOD2 is your cellular line of defense against mitochondrial oxidative stress. When this gene is underactive, free radicals from stress, UV light, or chemical exposures can damage hair follicle cells and disrupt growth phases. The dermal papilla, a critical part of the follicle, is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress.
A study showed that oxidative damage plays a role in hair follicle miniaturization and loss of pigment.
CODE Complex™ supports SOD2 expression with a blend of spirulina, green tea, white tea, bilberry, and niacinamide—nutrients shown to help reduce free radical burden and support hair growth through improved cellular energy.
Hair Loss and Genetic Testing: Nutrients in CODE Complex™ That Fortify Hair from Within
CODE Complex™ is designed to work with your genes, not against them. Here are key hair-supporting nutrients used in SNiP formulas:
Bamboo Leaf Extract (Silica Source)
Silica supports collagen synthesis, strengthens hair shafts, and may help detox heavy metals that interfere with follicular health. Clinical reference
Astaxanthin
This lipid-soluble antioxidant is highly bioavailable and has been shown to protect skin and scalp from oxidative stress, UV damage, and inflammation. Explore the research
Biotin (as D-Biotin)
Supports keratin infrastructure and reduces brittleness. Deficiency is linked to increased hair shedding and scalp inflammation. Review article
Zinc (as Zinc Aspartate)
Zinc promotes follicular repair, sebum balance, and immune regulation in the scalp. It’s commonly depleted in those experiencing alopecia or thinning hair.
Quatrefolic® (5-MTHF)
The bioactive form of folate that supports methylation, detoxification, and hormone balance—critical processes for maintaining a healthy scalp and robust hair growth.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in hair follicle cycling and supports healthy hair growth by stimulating the hair follicles and maintaining the hair growth phase (anagen). Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to hair thinning and hair loss, particularly alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia, due to disrupted follicle cycling and diminished follicle health. Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels may thus support healthier hair growth and reduce hair loss risk.
Addressing Hair Loss at the Root
Hair loss may start at the scalp, but the root of the problem often lies deeper. Whether it’s sluggish detox, underperforming mitochondria, methylation challenges, or chronic inflammation, your genes can help identify the roadblocks.
By addressing these foundational processes through targeted nutrients, CODE Complex™ helps restore the internal environment your hair needs to thrive. Instead of masking the symptom, we focus on the source, offering a path to stronger, more vibrant hair based on your unique biology.
Key Takeaway
Hair loss can be discouraging, but it’s also an opportunity to understand your body better. With SNiP’s precision testing and personalized supplement support, you can finally stop guessing and start aligning your nutrient strategy with your genetic blueprint.
Get the data. Support the pathways. And give your hair every reason to grow back stronger than before.
Curious what your DNA says about your hair health?
Start with a cheek swab with SNiP and see how your genes can guide your regrowth strategy.
Discover your genetic blueprint and take control of your health with SNiP Nutrigenomics. By testing with us, you can unlock insights into 103 high-impact, actionable genes, including those crucial for optimizing overall well-being. Already have your DNA data from companies such as 23andme or Ancestry? Enter your results to receive your customized nutrigenomics formulation CODE Complex™, designed to optimize your detoxification and metabolic pathways and empower your journey to better health.
