A fresh study on baldness unveils that protein shakes might cause loss of scalp hair, reports a leading English language daily in India.

Citing an Australian study conducted by renowned hair transplant surgeon Jennifer Martinick, the Times of India reports that protein shakes – widely used as a health supplement and weight loss aid – might lead to or exacerbate balding by building up particular chemicals in the body.

As today’s young people are too preoccupied with their looks and body image, they often use protein shakes to tone up their physique, not realising that it might trigger hair loss, the surgeon says, indicating that diet might be an overlooked area when people talk about hair loss treatment. Experiencing hair loss as early as in 20s or 30s might be attributed to unhealthy dietary habits, she adds.

Western diets contain plenty of animal fats and taking them on a regular basis might spell trouble for the gym-goers, the expert warns, saying that ingredients such as creatin are not conducive for healthy hair growth.

Urging people in their 20s and 30s to not become overly dependent on Botox and other unsafe health supplements, the surgeon from Western Australia recommends medical route to stop hair loss and trigger hair regrowth. It may be noted that there is a medicine called Propecia (finasteride) to treat the most common type of male hair loss, male pattern baldness.