Affected individuals have a variety of symptoms affecting the skin, Menkes' kinky hair syndrome is a genetic disorder in which individuals are not able to properly absorb copper in the gut. Treatment involves taking tyrosine supplements and this can return hair color to normal in a short space of time. Tyrosine is fundamentally required for pigment formation. This genetic disorder is caused by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase in the liver and this results in an inability to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine.
Lack of pigment in the hair is a minor concern with this condition as phenylketonuria typically involves significant mental retardation. There may be a loss of hair (as well as skin and eye) color in individuals who have phenylketonuria. Presumably normal hair color is produced when protein intake is adequate and reduced hair color occurs during times when there is a lack of protein intake. The flag sign is associated with intermittent protein malnutrition.
The flag sign sometimes seen in kwashiorkor involves alternating light and dark bands of color along individual hair fibers. Light colored hair becomes blonde. Normally dark brown hair becomes a rusty red. This disease involves multiple symptoms including the reduction of pigment production and incorporation into hair fiber. Prolonged protein deficiency in the diet results in Kwashiorkor.
Any hair color changes due to nutritional deficiencies are typically only seen in people who have genetic defects, in diseases that block metabolism, or in severely malnourished individuals of the developing world. It is very rare to find nutritional factors as a cause of hair color changes.
Lack of pigment in the hair is a minor concern with this condition as phenylketonuria typically involves significant mental retardation. There may be a loss of hair (as well as skin and eye) color in individuals who have phenylketonuria. Presumably normal hair color is produced when protein intake is adequate and reduced hair color occurs during times when there is a lack of protein intake. The flag sign is associated with intermittent protein malnutrition.
The flag sign sometimes seen in kwashiorkor involves alternating light and dark bands of color along individual hair fibers. Light colored hair becomes blonde. Normally dark brown hair becomes a rusty red. This disease involves multiple symptoms including the reduction of pigment production and incorporation into hair fiber. Prolonged protein deficiency in the diet results in Kwashiorkor.
Any hair color changes due to nutritional deficiencies are typically only seen in people who have genetic defects, in diseases that block metabolism, or in severely malnourished individuals of the developing world. It is very rare to find nutritional factors as a cause of hair color changes.
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