title: Effect of low-protein diet and its duration on hair composition.
abstract: The effect of feeding a low-protein diet (1%) and its duration (4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks) on the protein content and amino-acid pattern of hair were studied. These changes were compared with control groups fed an adequate protein diet (16%). Protein content of hair was diminished in the protein-deficient rats after four weeks followed by a gradual decrease till the end of the experiment. Sulphur-containing amino acids, cystine and cysteine, were significantly reduced in the hair of the protein-deficient rats when compared with the normal controls. The amino-acid pattern showed significant differences from controls by the end of the whole experimental period.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011506:Proteins