title: Retinoids putting the "a" in alopecia.
abstract: Vitamin A (vitA) has many roles in human biology. With respect to hair, knockout mice for vitA receptor, hairless, and vitamin D genes have similar phenotypes, and follicle loss occurs during catagen. Hypovitaminosis A from inadequate vitA intake causes hair loss. This work suggests that dietary vitA may have a role in precipitating and maintaining alopecias as well.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors: Phillip D
authors: PD
authors: Holler
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Cotsarelis
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D012176:Retinoids; D014801:Vitamin A