Relation between mineral composition of human hair and common illnesses

Izabela Michalak,Agnieszka Saeid,Katarzyna Chojnacka

doi:10.1007/s11434-012-5385-7

Izabela Michalak, Agnieszka Saeid + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-5385-7

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find the relation between mineral composition of human hair and illnesses such as infections of the respiratory system, asthma, vertigo, migraine, nervousness, hair loss, dandruff, brittle fingernails and white spots on fingernails. The mineral content of human hair was determined by multielemental analysis using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Information about the health condition of the examined subjects was obtained by questionnaire. It was found that the hair of individuals who currently suffered from infections of the respiratory system or who had asthma had higher Zr content, the hair of sufferers of vertigo had a lower Ca, La and Sr content and in the hair of migraine sufferers the W content was higher than in the hair of healthy subjects. The level of K in the hair of nervous people was three times higher than in hair of people who never suffered from nervousness. Individuals who complained of hair loss had an increased level of Cu in the hair. For individuals with dandruff, brittle fingernails and white spots on fingernails, the content of Ca and La in the hair was higher than in the hair of individuals who did not suffer from any of these conditions. The results of this study indicate that the metal content in hair could be used in the diagnosis of some common illnesses.

Highlights

Over the last 20–30 years, considerable effort has been directed at the measurement of trace metal levels in various human tissues to find correlations between the trace metals and human health and diseases [1]
Lech [5] determined whether the content of selected bioelements and toxic metals in the hair would be useful in clinical diagnostic procedures in certain chronic neurological disorders related to the deficiency of essential elements or to an excess of toxic metals
Park et al [6] investigated the possible relationship between minerals and metabolic syndrome by analyzing the mineral content of hair

Summary

Introduction

Over the last 20–30 years, considerable effort has been directed at the measurement of trace metal levels in various human tissues (e.g. human hair) to find correlations between the trace metals and human health and diseases [1]. Forte et al [4] assessed the metal content of hair as a reliable marker of Parkinson’s disease. They hypothesized that imbalances in the levels of metals in the body could be cofactors of risk for disease. Their findings suggested a probable relationship between the pathology of the disease and a deficiency of Fe in the hair of patients [4]. Park et al [6] investigated the possible relationship between minerals and metabolic syndrome by analyzing the mineral content of hair. The mineral analysis of hair was undertaken in an attempt to find a relation between the mineral content of hair and commonly occurring diseases, such as infections of the respiratory system, asthma, vertigo, migraines, nervousness, hair loss, dandruff, brittle fingernails, and white spots on fingernails

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