Abstract
For the development of functional food for hair-growth stimulation, this study has tried an in vivo and clinical test. As an in vivo test male Sprague Dawley rats and as a clinical test 27 baldheaded or loosehaired men were recruited. Before the experiment, the total hair count in 6 $\textrm{mm}^2$ of the designated area was 46.5. In four weeks and eight weeks of the functional food feeding it increased to 61.8 and 75.3, respectively. Hence the net increase was totaled at 62% in eight weeks. Also, depilation was decreased by 28%. Before the experiment, average hair loss was 65.7. In four weeks and eight weeks of the functional food feeding it decreased to 55.2 and 47.3, respectively. LDL and phospholipids were decreased by 42% and 36%, respectively during that period. However, HDL was increased by 21%. Forty percent of the subjects responded that itching of head skin was reduced and 34% responded to have reduced dandruff. No side-effects among the subjects were examined and no other blood pa-rameters were significantly affected by the diet. The results in this study suggest that biotin-rich functional food may stimulate cholesterol and lipid metabolism and blood flow leading to the growth of new hair and prevention of hair loss.
