Uptake and Utilization of Amino Acids by Human Hair Follicles and Related Cells
January 1996
TLDR Cysteine and arginine are essential for hair growth and thickness.
This study investigated the role of amino acids in human hair follicles, focusing on cysteine and arginine. It found that both amino acids were essential for hair growth and protein synthesis. Cysteine influenced hair fibre diameter, with reduced supply leading to thinning and growth retardation. Hair follicles utilized the amino acid transporter ASC for cysteine uptake, while arginine was primarily incorporated into proteins in the hair root sheaths and fibres. Arginine's availability affected energy metabolism, as indicated by changes in lactate production. The study also noted that certain peptide transporters were not expressed in hair follicles, and glutamate was transported more slowly than other amino acids.