Aging Senior Citizens See Their Hair Turn Gray
Because of Massive Hydrogen Peroxide
Hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide, but
becomes a lot as we get older
Feb. 23, 2009 - Why does the hair of senior
citizens turn gray? This mystery that has perplexed humans throughout
the ages hair turning gray, then white, as we age has been solved,
according to a team of European scientists, who say it is hydrogen
peroxide.
Despite the notion that gray hair is a sign of
wisdom, these researchers show in a research report published online in
The FASEB Journal that wisdom has nothing to do with it. Going
gray is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear
and tear of our hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the
normal synthesis of melanin, our hair's natural pigment.
"Not only blondes change their hair color with
hydrogen peroxide," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The
FASEB Journal.
"All of our hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen
peroxide, but as we get older, this little bit becomes a lot. We bleach
our hair pigment from within, and our hair turns gray and then white.
This research, however, is an important first step to get at the root of
the problem, so to speak."
The researchers made this discovery by examining
cell cultures of human hair follicles. They found that the build up of
hydrogen peroxide was caused by a reduction of an enzyme that breaks up
hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (catalase).
They also discovered that hair follicles could not
repair the damage caused by the hydrogen peroxide because of low levels
of enzymes that normally serve this function (MSR A and B).
Further complicating matters, the high levels of
hydrogen peroxide and low levels of MSR A and B, disrupt the formation
of an enzyme (tyrosinase) that leads to the production of melanin in
hair follicles. Melanin is the pigment responsible for hair color, skin
color, and eye color.
The researchers speculate that a similar breakdown
in the skin could be the root cause of vitiligo the skin disorder in
which whitish patches appear.
"As any blue-haired lady will attest, sometimes
hair dyes don't quite work as anticipated," Weissmann added. "This study
is a prime example of how basic research in biology can benefit us in
ways never imagined."
The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org)
is published by the Federation of the American Societies for
Experimental Biology (FASEB) and is the most cited journal worldwide
according to the Institute for Scientific Information. FASEB comprises
22 nonprofit societies with more than 80,000 members, making it the
largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United
States. FASEB advances biological science through collaborative advocacy
for research policies that promote scientific progress and education and
lead to improvements in human health.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Feb. 23, 2009 - Why does the hair of senior
citizens turn gray? This mystery that has perplexed humans throughout
the ages hair turning gray, then white, as we age has been solved,
according to a team of European scientists, who say it is hydrogen
peroxide.