Gray Hair

Gray hair results from a failure of the copper-dependent enzyme that produces melanin pigment, a process Peat linked directly to copper deficiency and the competitive displacement of copper by excess iron. 3 He observed that iron competes against copper for incorporation into pigment enzymes, and that an accumulation of iron with aging or from high-iron foods will "knock the copper out" of these enzymes, halting pigment formation. 3 Peat also identified other competing heavy metals, such as molybdenum, as contributing factors. 2 This loss of pigment is not merely cosmetic; Peat connected it to a broader failure of oxidative metabolism, noting that copper is both the respiratory catalyst and the pigment-forming catalyst, so a deficiency tends to produce lower metabolism and more inflamed tissue. 3

The restoration of pigment is possible and can be remarkably rapid when copper is supplied directly to the follicle. Peat described a personal experiment in which he applied a weak solution of copper aspirinate and copper acetate (made by dissolving a copper penny in water with aspirin and vinegar) to white eyebrow hairs, observing black pigment appearing at the root the very next day. 2 He found that eyebrows, with a lifespan of about a month, were highly receptive, while only about 10% of longer-lived sideburn or head hairs responded to a single application because they must be in the correct growth phase. 2 However, he cautioned that a solution that is too strong could cause a mole to develop almost instantly through an invasion of pigment cells, leading him to suggest safer alternatives. 2

Systemic hormonal and metabolic factors are fundamental to the graying process. Peat argued that thyroid function is a primary regulator, as thyroid hormone governs copper assimilation and the hormones that regulate pigment. 2 He noted that hypothyroidism is associated with high prolactin and serotonin, and that thyroid supplementation is a reliable way to control prolactin, which is linked to hair abnormalities. 2 Dinkov later cited a study confirming that people with prematurely gray hair have a significantly high percentage of low thyroid function and, in virtually all cases, low vitamin D. 9 Peat also observed that DHEA could correct graying "pretty quickly," and recommended supplementing it either topically or orally as a safer alternative to direct copper application. 2 Roddy elaborated that the hair follicle has an extremely proliferative metabolism that generates many free radicals; if pregnenolone, progesterone, or DHEA are deficient, the melanin will accept these electrons and become damaged, leading to pigment loss. 10 Dinkov added that the accumulation of tryptophan and serotonin has been shown to cause gray hair, with a case study reporting reversal of completely white hair using bromocriptine. 9

Environmental and dietary stressors accelerate the process. Peat linked premature graying to stress on the skin from cold climates and radiation, noting that dental X-rays could cause circular patches of white whiskers by knocking out the ability to oxidize pigment. 3 He emphasized that a diet high in iron-rich muscle meats, with its accompanying phosphate, tryptophan, and heme, tends to support degenerative processes and displace copper. 2 To counteract this, Peat recommended consuming shellfish such as oysters, shrimp, and crab as the best food for increasing copper while decreasing iron, and advised drinking coffee with meat to inhibit iron absorption. 3 Roddy observed that the modern environment is oriented against the individual's oxidative metabolism, making premature graying in teenagers and young adults increasingly common. 10