Correlation of Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc Content in Hair with Basal Metabolic Rate and Bioelectrical Impedance in Adolescent Females

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc content in hair with basal metabolic rate (BMR), expressed as kilocalories per body weight in kilograms (kcal/kg), and bioelectrical impedance percentage (BI%) in adolescent females. Materials and Methods One hundred and forty-eight adolescent females with differing BMR and BI% were randomly enrolled, and the calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc content of their hair were simultaneously measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results Positive correlations of iron β = 0.3326; p < 0.01) and zinc (β = 0.3519; p < 0.05) content in hair with BMR were found, while inverse correlations of zinc ( b = −0.4885; p < 0.01) and iron ( b = −0.2582; p < 0.05) content in hair with BI% were found. Conclusion Iron and zinc content in hair seems to have a close relationship with BMR and BI% in adolescent females. Exactly how iron and zinc affects BMR and BI% in these subjects is still unclear and warrants further study. [ Tzu Chi Med J 2008;20(1):58–62]