Exploration of potential lipid biomarkers for premature canities by UPLC-QTOF-MS analyses of hair follicle roots

Researchers used ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to compare lipids in hair follicle roots from people with premature greying and controls, across three sample groups: white hair from greying individuals, still-pigmented hair from greying individuals, and pigmented hair from controls. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, vitamin D3 and cholesterol were higher in control pigmented hair than in white hair, while sphingomyelin, phosphatidic acid, vitamin D3 and diglyceride were lower in white hair than in the greying individuals' pigmented hair. Vitamin D3 was highest in controls, fell as greying severity increased and was lowest in white hair. Seven candidate compound classes were identified as potentially involved in white hair formation.