Effect of Inositol on Rat Alopecia
November 1943
in “
Experimental Biology and Medicine
”
TLDR Inositol helped prevent and cure hair loss in rats.
The study investigated the effect of inositol on alopecia in rats and found that inositol supplementation both cured and prevented hair loss. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a basal diet with various supplements across different lots. The rats in Lot III experienced hair loss, which was cured by adding inositol to their diet. The study also observed that inositol, in combination with a folic acid preparation and vitamin B6, resulted in better growth rates compared to when the folic acid preparation was omitted. The results suggest that the natural diet used in the study was deficient in inositol, folic acid concentrate, and vitamin B6 for normal growth and proper hair and fur development in rats. The study does not specify the number of rats used in each lot, but it does mention that 6 animals were used in Lot 1 and 3 animals in Lot 2, with similar small group sizes for the other lots.