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Estimation of structural components of abnormal human hair from amino acid analyses

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Abstract

A mathematical method is described for using an amino acid analysis for estimating the proportions of the major structural components of human hair. Application of this method to the amino acid composition of hair from malnourished children and from trichothiodystrophic hair suggests its potential usefulness as a diagnostic index, particularly for nutritional status. The possible relevance of the results to the biosynthesis of hair proteins is also discussed.

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Menefee, E., Friedman, M. Estimation of structural components of abnormal human hair from amino acid analyses. J Protein Chem 4, 333–341 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01025498

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