Hair Loss as Affected by Diet with Particular Reference to the Effect of Gossypol

The study observed that rats on diets containing 10% and 15% raw cotton seeds frequently experienced hair loss, despite being on nutritionally adequate basal diets. The omission of cotton seeds from their diet prevented hair loss and increased growth rates, suggesting that a factor in the seeds, likely gossypol, was responsible for the hair loss. This finding aligned with previous research indicating that dietary imbalances, particularly in protein, minerals, and vitamins, could lead to hair loss.