Alopecia in Rats Fed Certain Soybean Oil Meal Rations.

Rats that were fed soybean oil meal rations experienced hair loss, which could be prevented by adding inositol and biotin to their diet. The hair loss did not occur when the diet was supplemented with cystine or methionine. While inositol did not significantly affect growth rates, cystine and methionine supplements notably increased growth when added to the raw soybean oil meal ration. Biotin also slightly promoted growth when included in the diet. The study suggests that soybean oil meal may raise the dietary need for biotin and/or inositol, potentially due to changes in intestinal flora, absorption issues, vitamin imbalances, or the presence of substances in the meal that counteract vitamins.