Viviscal Women's Hair Growth Supplement review: does it work for menopause thinning?
Viviscal's marine protein formula has small placebo-controlled trials showing more hair and less shedding. Every trial we found was funded by the maker, and none tested women specifically in menopause.
See a doctor if hair loss is sudden, patchy or comes with scalp pain, rash or extreme tiredness. Get urgent help for swelling of the lips or throat or trouble breathing after taking it, especially with a fish or shellfish allergy.
What Viviscal is and what the brand claims
Viviscal Women's is a tablet built around a marine protein blend the brand calls AminoMar. The brand says it visibly improves hair growth and thickness in as little as three months.1
The brand says its marine complex has been studied in 10 clinical trials in men and women. It also states that results are not guaranteed.1
This page is an evidence review, not a hands-on test. We read the trials and the brand's own statements.
What is in it
The brand page lists the AminoMar marine complex (collagen and oyster extract), biotin, vitamin C, zinc, iron, niacin, calcium, horsetail and millet seed extract.1
Older trial versions used shark and mollusk powder, horsetail silica and vitamin C.3 The 2015 version also added biotin and zinc.2 Formulas differ by country, so read the label on your pack.
What the research shows, and who funded it
2015 trial. Sixty women with self-perceived thinning hair, average age about 49, took the supplement or a placebo for 90 days. Terminal hair counts in a test area rose from about 178 to 236 with the supplement and barely changed with placebo. Shedding fell. Hair thickness did not change.2
2012 trial. Fifteen women took part: 10 on the supplement and 5 on placebo, for 180 days. Terminal hair counts more than doubled in the supplement group.3 With so few women at one clinic, this result is fragile.
Funding. Both trials were funded by Lifes2good, the company that made Viviscal at the time. The 2012 author received a research grant from the company.3,2 Neither trial was limited to menopausal women.
Limits. Women joined because they felt their hair was thinning, not because a doctor diagnosed a cause. Hair was counted in a small test patch of scalp. No trial compared Viviscal with minoxidil, and we found no independent study run without company money.
The 2012 study tested an older formula with fewer ingredients than today's tablets.3,1 So results may not carry over exactly to the product you buy now.
A 2023 systematic review in JAMA Dermatology covered 30 supplement studies. It placed Viviscal among the products with better-quality evidence, but said each result must be read in light of the study design.5 News coverage of the review said marine protein products looked effective at raising hair counts, but the studies were manufacturer-funded and not well controlled.4
Safety, side effects and who should avoid it
Fish and shellfish allergy. The marine complex comes from fish and shellfish sources, including shark, mollusk and oyster.2,1 UK packs list fish and shellfish as allergens.8 If you have a fish or shellfish allergy, do not take it unless an allergist says it is safe.
Biotin. The product contains biotin.1 The FDA warns that biotin in supplements can cause falsely low troponin results.6 Troponin is used to diagnose heart attacks, so tell your doctor and the lab you take biotin before any blood test.
Iron and other cautions. It also contains iron.1 Ask a doctor first if you have an iron-overload condition or already take iron. The brand says not to use it in pregnancy or breastfeeding and to speak to a doctor if you take medicines.1 Pregnancy is still possible in perimenopause.
Side effects in the trials were few. The review coverage noted bloating with marine protein supplements.4
Who it might suit and alternatives
It is not vegetarian or vegan, because the marine complex comes from sea animals.1
It may suit women without seafood allergies who want a supplement and accept company-funded evidence. It will not fix hair loss caused by thyroid disease, anemia or medicines, so get those checked.
For female pattern hair loss, minoxidil has stronger evidence from a large placebo-controlled trial.7 It is not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it can cause early shedding and unwanted facial hair.7 See our minoxidil guide, our Nutrafol vs Viviscal comparison and thinning hair in menopause. Browse more on our hair products page.
Price and value
The brand sells it as a one-off purchase or on subscription.1 The trials ran for three to six months, so budget for repeat packs. Check the current price.
Value depends on the cause of your thinning. If a doctor finds low iron or a thyroid problem, treating that comes first.
What it is used for: evidence rated
| Option | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Minoxidil (for comparison) | A trial of about 400 women showed clearly more hair with 5% foam than an inactive foam.7 | |
| More hair growth | Two small placebo-controlled trials (60 and 15 women) found higher hair counts, but both were company-funded.2,3 | |
| Less shedding | Shedding fell in the 2015 trial of 60 women, funded by the maker.2 | |
| Thicker individual hairs | Hair diameter did not change in the 2015 trial.2 |
Ratings explained: how we rate. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting a medicine or supplement.
Related
Sources
- Viviscal hair supplements, Viviscal (brand page)
- Ablon G. A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair, Dermatology Research and Practice (2015)
- Ablon G. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of an oral supplement in women with self-perceived thinning hair, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol (2012)
- Review gives weight to supplements for hair loss, MDedge (2022)
- Drake L et al. Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of nutritional supplements for treating hair loss: a systematic review, JAMA Dermatology (2023), abstract via Epistemonikos
- Biotin interference with troponin lab tests: assays subject to biotin interference, US Food and Drug Administration (2022)
- Regaine for Women Once a Day Scalp Foam 5% w/w: Summary of Product Characteristics, electronic medicines compendium (UK)
- Viviscal Maximum Strength hair supplements: ingredients, allergens and warnings, Boots (UK retail listing)