Chemoprevention of smoke-induced alopecia in mice by oral administration of l-cystine and vitamin B6

In the 2007 study, researchers found that oral administration of L-cystine and vitamin B6 inhibited smoke-induced alopecia in mice in a dose-dependent manner. The study involved adult female C57BL/6 mice, with eight animals per group, exposed to environmental cigarette smoke (ECS). ECS exposure led to increased micronucleated erythrocytes, indicating cytogenetic damage, and induced alopecia and apoptosis in hair bulb cells. However, higher doses of L-cystine and vitamin B6 (200/20 mg/kg and 1000/100 mg/kg body weight per day) prevented alopecia, while the lowest dose (40/4 mg/kg body weight per day) was ineffective. The treatment did not prevent ECS-induced body weight loss or systemic genotoxic damage. The study suggests that these supplements could potentially prevent smoke-induced hair loss in humans, although quitting smoking remains the best prevention method.