Hair Zinc Research Articles

Hair zinc level in Down syndrome.

Immunological, endocrinological, and haematological abnormalities are relatively common in people with Down syndrome (Cuadrado & Barrena, 1996; Decoq & Vincker, 1995; Hestnes et al., 1991; Sustrova & Strbak, 1994; Nespoli, Burgio, Ugazio & Maccario, 1993; Kempski, Chessells & Reeves, 1997; Kivivuori, Rajantie, & Siimes, 1996; David et al., 1996; Gjertson, Sturm & Berger, 1999). Zinc is one of the elements that act in the maintenance of normal function of these systems. This study was designed to investigate zinc levels in children with Down syndrome. Zinc levels were measured in hair using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The hair zinc level of 19 children with Down syndrome was compared with the zinc level of 11 typically developing children. Hair zinc levels were found to be significantly lower (p < .05) in those with Down syndrome (average 95.18 +/- 56.10 ppm) than in the typically developing children (average 208.88 +/- 152.37 ppm). Some of the problems experienced by children with Down syndrome may be due to these low zinc levels, but further research is required to confirm these results, and to establish any correlation with these problems.

Experiences of a Community-Based Dietary Intervention to Enhance Micronutrient Adequacy of Diets Low in Animal Source Foods and High in Phytate: A Case Study in Rural Malawian Children

A community-based dietary diversification/modification intervention, employing a quasiexperimental design with a nonequivalent control group, was conducted in two intervention and two control villages in rural Southern Malawi. The aim was to enhance the content and bioavailability of micronutrients in maize-based diets of stunted children ages 30-90 mo. Efficacy was evaluated through a comparison of the changes in knowledge and practices, anthropometry, malaria screening, hemoglobin and hair zinc after 12 mo, common infections monthly postintervention and nutrient adequacy postintervention via 24-h recalls. Intervention diets were more diverse and of higher quality than the control diets, supplying significantly more animal source foods, especially soft-boned fish, but less phytic acid (p < 0.01). Median intakes of energy, protein, calcium, available zinc, heme iron and vitamin B-12 were greater (p < 0.05) in intervention compared to the control groups; some spread of knowledge and practices to the control groups occurred. Intervention enhanced Z-scores for mid-upper-arm circumference and arm muscle area (p < 0.001), but had no impact on weight or height gain. After controlling for baseline variables, mean hemoglobin was higher (107 vs. 102 g/L; p < 0.01) postintervention, whereas incidence of anemia and common infections were lower in the intervention groups compared to the control groups, with no change in malaria or hair zinc status. Dietary strategies reduced the prevalence of inadequate intakes of protein, calcium, zinc and vitamin B-12, but not iron, because fish was the major source of animal food consumed. More efforts to raise small animals and promote their consumption are needed to enhance dietary quality and ensure optimal growth, health and cognitive development in young Malawian children.

Contents of arsenic, mercury and other trace elements in Napoleon's hair determined by INAA using the k0-method

Two samples of Napoleon's hair were received for determination of arsenic, mercury and other trace elements by INAA. Before sample irradiation, the hairs were washed following the IAEA washing procedure. Two standard reference materials of GBW09101 (human hair) and NIST/SRM1572 (citrus leaves) were analyzed along with Napoleon's hair for quality control. Standardization was conducted by applying the k0-method implemented in the program MULTINAA. The contents of arsenic and mercury as well as three additional elements chromium, antimony and zinc in Napoleon's hair are reported. Compared to the present normal levels, all of the determined elements in Napoleon's hair, except the mercury, are found to be irregular.

Utility of formazans and cetylpyridinium chloride in rapid spectrophotometric determination of zinc in biological materials and pharmaceutical formulations

A facile, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of zinc is performed, based on complexation reaction between the metal ion and 1,5-diphenyl-3-acetylformazan ( I) 1-( o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-acetylformazan ( II), 1-( o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylformazan ( III), and 1-( o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-5-m-tolylformazan ( IV) in the presence of cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The important analytical parameters and their effects on the reported system are investigated. Zinc reacts with the reagents ( I– IV) and CPC in the ratio 1:1:2 (metal:reagent:CPC) in the pH range 8.5, 7.5, 5.5 and 6.5 to form a ternary complex with an absorption maximum 616, 656, 672 and 599 nm, respectively. The reaction was extremely rapid at room temperature, and the absorbance value remains unchanged for at least 1 week. The apparent stability constant of the complex were found to be 13.1 9.2, 11.4 and 12.3, and adheres to Beer's law for 0.05–3.50 μg per 10 ml of zinc. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration range was found from 0.08 to 3.20 μg per 10 ml of zinc. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits are also calculated. Taking a constant concentration of metal ion and determining its concentration in the presence of large number of foreign ions tested the effect of foreign ions. The method was applied for determination of zinc in serum, human hair and pharmaceutical formulations, where excellent agreements between reported and obtained results were achieved. The relative standard deviation was better than 1.67%.

Hair zinc concentrations not subject to seasonal variation in adults in New Zealand.

The analysis of recently grown hair for zinc provides a biomarker of recent zinc status. Seasonal variation of zinc in hair has been demonstrated in children. The aim of this study was to investigate whether on a month-by- month basis there is a seasonal variation in hair zinc concentration in an apparently well-nourished adult population in New Zealand. It was hypothesized that increased hours of daylight would be associated with an increase in zinc concentration in hair. Thirty-four subjects (20 F, 14 M) aged 18-54 yr had occipital hair sampled at monthly intervals between June and December. Food variety was assessed by questionnaire. After thorough washing of the hair followed by nitric acid digestion, zinc was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) with special attention to the inclusion of blanks, internal and international standards, and reduction of contamination in each sample run. Analyses between two laboratories confirmed that two FAAS instruments were giving the same reading. No seasonal variation in hair zinc concentration was found. Reported dietary variety, ethnicity, gender, and hair color were unrelated to hair zinc concentrations in this population. This study adds to evidence that will help define the role of hair zinc in determining recent zinc status.

Zinc status (plasma and hair zinc concentrations) during pregnancy: A longitudinal study

AbstractA longitudinal study of plasma and hair zinc concentration analysis was performed in 51 and 38 pregnant women, respectively. Plasma zinc levels were followed from first trimester to the end of second trimester, whereas hair zinc concentrations were measured in all trimesters. They were all measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Both plasma and hair zinc levels declined significantly during the second trimesters There was also a significant difference in plasma zinc levels between the “well‐nourished” and “poorly nourished” groups (P &lt; 0.001 and P &lt; 0.05)Similar changes could not be observed for hair zinc concentrations, probably because of the fact that all pregnant women were from Ankara rather than from villages, where the dietary habit is frequently associated with zinc deficiency. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 16:175–179, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Serum and hair levels of zinc and other elements in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.

The aim of this study was to determine the zinc, iron, copper, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels in blood serum and zinc and copper levels in hair of dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis. The serum zinc and iron levels were found to be significantly lower in diseased dogs than those of healthy controls. Serum copper levels were significantly higher, whereas no significant differences were observed for calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. There were no significant differences in the zinc and copper levels in hair. Our results show that the serum zinc, iron, and copper levels are altered in canine leishmaniasis.

Levels of zinc and magnesium in senile and diabetic senile cataractous lenses.

Zinc and magnesium in serum, hair, and lens were determined in diabetic and nondiabetic patients who have been operated because of senile cataract. Both trace elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, after acidic digestion of the lens and hair samples. Although there was no difference in serum, lens, and hair levels of magnesium between the two groups, the lens levels of zinc in diabetic patients (0.56+/-0.05 micromol/g dry weight) were significantly higher as compared with nondiabetic group (0.42+/-0.03 micromol/g dry weight). There was no statistically significant difference in serum and hair levels of zinc between the groups. The increased concentration of zinc in the lens of diabetic patients suggests that zinc might play a role in developmental mechanism of the diabetic senile cataract.

Determination of iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, zinc, copper, cadmium and lead in human hair by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

A method was standardized for the dissolution of hair samples and analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Hair samples were brought into solution by using a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Various parameters that influence the sample preparation, namely temperature, digestion time and ratio of acid mixture were studied and standardized. The optimized method has been employed to digest standard reference materials and hair samples of residents of India, collected from different age groups and sex, and analyzed for Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb. The values agree for most of the metals with the data reported for human hair samples of residents of India. The NIES CRM Human Hair No. 5 and IAEA Reference Hair HH-1 certified reference materials were used in order to verify the accuracy of the method and the results were in excellent agreement with the certified values.

Hair zinc and copper in chronic alcoholics.

Chronic alcoholics frequently show associated malnutrition. Both ethanol and malnutrition exert profound changes on zinc and copper metabolism. In this study, we found higher hair zinc and copper values in 43 male alcoholics than in 39 controls. Hair copper was significantly related to the amount of ethanol consumed, whereas hair zinc was higher in consumers of distilled beverages. No relation was observed between hair zinc and copper and nutritional status, kind of diet consumed, style of life, and liver cirrhosis. Consequently, hair zinc and copper levels are related only with alcohol intake.

Measurement of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron concentrations in hair of pituitary dwarfism patients using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Pituitary dwarfism (hGHD) is known to be associated with trace element deficiency, which causes improper functioning of the involved endocrine system. Previously, we reported on the head hair concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron from a total of 418 normal subjects (154 male and 264 female). In this report, we analyzed the head hair concentrations of the same four trace metals of 103 hGHD children (60 male and 43 female) under treatment with human growth hormone (hGH). These subjects ranged in age from 5 to 18 yr. The results were compared with 338 age-matched normal subjects (120 male and 218 female). Both male and female hGHD showed approx 1.7 times higher zinc concentrations than normal subjects. Cheruvanky et al. reported a similar trend but with a slightly lower difference between hGHD and normal subjects. The average copper content in the hair of both male and female subjects also showed higher values for the hGHD than for the normal subjects, a trend similar to the values reported by Teraoka et al. In the case of manganese, the concentrations in hair of the hGHD were approx 50% of the values in the normal subjects. Head hair concentrations of iron in the hGHD were commensurate with the normal subjects. Because the content of trace elements in hair varies with the age of subjects, as a control, we investigated the head hair concentration of zinc from 20 healthy girls ranging in age from 10 to 18 yr. The average zinc concentration decreased from 10 to 12 yr, but no clear relation to age was observed from 13 yr and older. These trends were similar to our previous report. The zinc concentration in hair and body weight gain over a year was negatively correlated. The age variation in the content of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron in hair was measured comparing hGHD with the normal subjects in various ages. Concerning the zinc-level variation of hGHD and normal subjects, there were conspicuous differences between hGHD and normal subjects. For copper, the variations in concentration with age were similar to zinc. Regarding the age variations for manganese, hGHD had lower concentrations in hair compared to the normal subjects throughout adolescence (11-18 yr). We have studied the effects between the hair and these trace element concentrations in hGHD before and after hGH administration. These results suggest that hGH affects the metabolism of these trace elements.

Zinc, iron, and sodium in hair of deer from areas of contrasting soil productivity.

The contribution of soils to animal biology through the soil's effect on the ecosystem is an important concept in ecology. Zinc, Fe, and Na contents were determined in autumnal collections of hair of fawn white-tailed doe deer (Virginianus odocoilcus) from two areas of contrasting soil productivity. The area-weighted soil productivity of one area was 40 compared with 79 for the other area. Hair collections were made in each of 8 consecutive years. The mean difference in dressed weight of fawn does collected from these areas in late autumn over 4 yr amounted to 7.2 kg. Some of this weight difference was presumed to be accounted for by a difference in the level of mineral nutrition because the amount of forage was not limiting in either area. Considering the total sample of 8 yr, the mean contents of Zn were 96 and 98, of Fe were 42 and 45, and of Na were 38 and 36 mg/kg for the respective areas. None of the elements was significantly different each year over the observation period. In 3 yr, at least one of the elements differed, and in 1 yr all three differed. The contents of the elements were not related to April through August precipitation, which was considered a measure of plant-available water thought to be important in mineral absorption by forage vegetation. Zinc was significantly different in 29 of the 56 between-year comparisons within areas; Fe differed in 2 and Na in 14 comparisons. The site of collection of the doe was known within a 2.6-km2 area for about 80% of the samples for one of the areas and 90% for the other; therefore, either a soil series or soil association could be identified with the deer. Soils were grouped into two categories in each sampling area; the groupings reflected the intensity of weathering and leaching in one area, and in the other case where soil weathering was not as well developed, substantial soil taxonomic contrast related to grass or deciduous tree vegetation associated with soil development. Only Fe in hair from does collected in the more intensively weathered soil area was significantly different, perhaps reflecting higher levels of plant-available Fe made available to plants because of breakdown of Fe-bearing minerals.

Lead, copper, zinc, and magnesium content in hair of children and young people with some neurological diseases.

The lead, copper, zinc, and magnesium levels of scalp hair taken from 153 children aged 1-15 yr and young people (16-18 yr) with selected neurological disorders (hyperexcibility, loss of consciousness, and epileptiform convulsions of an unknown origin, etc.), were measured using the atomic absorption spectrometry method and then compared with a control group of healthy children (n = 108). The research indicated significantly reduced mean levels of magnesium in the hair of children suffering from selected neurological diseases (in children aged 11-15 yr of age, above 30%; up to 5 yr of age, nearly 30%; the differences were statistically significant at p < 0.05) and slightly decreased mean levels of copper (differences statistically significant at p < 0.05, particularly in the 11 to 15-yr category). Differences in zinc levels in hair were inconsiderable (not statistically significant in any age groups). The lead level in the hair of the above-mentioned group of children was exceeded in relation to the control group (a statistically significant difference at p < 0.05 for the total group). A more than twofold decrease in the mean value of the Mg/Pb ratio (and a nearly 30% decrease in the value of the Mg/Zn ratio) in the hair of children suffering from neurological diseases suggests that the high toxicity of lead accompanying, among other things, magnesium deficiencies might be a cause of the observed disorders-in children.

Lead, Copper, Zinc, and Magnesium Levels in Hair of Children and Young People with Some Disorders of the Osteomuscular Articular System

The lead, copper, zinc, and magnesium contents of scalp hair taken from 173 children aged 1-15 yr and young people (16-18 yr) with certain disorders of the osteomuscular articular system (osteomuscular pains of unknown origin, once described as "growing pains") were measured, using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry method, and then compared with those of 108 normal, healthy children. The research showed increased average levels of lead (a statistically significant p<0.05 in both the overall group of children, and in those over 11 yr old), and zinc (increased in the total group, in a statistically significant way at p<0.10 only in adolescents over 15 yr old) and decreased levels of copper (although not significantly) in the hair of children suffering from "rheumatic" diseases, as compared with controls. The magnesium levels for the total group of ill children were admittedly enhanced, but in the youngest children, the levels were reduced. The values of the Mg/Pb and Mg/Zn ratios were lower (in the youngest children, 70% decrease of the Mg/Pb ratio) and Zn/Cu were higher in the group of children suffering from rheumatic diseases than in the healthy children. The difference of Mg/Pb ratio between the total controls and rheumatic subjects was statistically significant at p<0.05 and the Zn/Cu at p<0.10. The Mg/Zn ratio was not statistically significant.

Maternal Smoking Effects on Infant Growth

The influence of maternal smoking the nutrient content of breastmilk and impact on infant longitudinal growth rate is unknown. From birth, 23 smoking (S), (7.1 +/- 4.4 cigarettes/day) and 23 non-smoking (NS) mother-infant pairs were followed. The breastmilk volume by deuterium dilution, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in breastmilk and hair by atomic absorption (AAS) and cotinine levels by radio-immuno-analysis (RIA) were evaluated. Birthweight was similar in contrast to height, and infants grew normally. Height and height-for-age (ZHA) were significantly lower in S infants and weight-for-height (ZWH) was higher in S infants in the third month, caused by slower height growth. Cotinine was 19 times greater in the S mothers and six times higher in their infants, as compared to NS group. Breastmilk volume was 743 +/- 119 g/day (S) and 742 +/- 111 g/day (NS), with no difference in zinc, copper, iron contents, except for cadmium (Cd). In infant's hair, all minerals were higher in the S group. Smoking affected infant's height during breastfeeding, attributed to an eventual impaired bioavailability of essential nutrients.

Association between lower hair zinc levels and neural tube defects.

Though folic acid supplementation has reduced the incidence of Neural Tube Defects (NTD), NTD still constitutes one of the important congenital malformations having wide medical, social and ethical implications. Zinc deficiency has been reported to produce NTD in animals. This study was designed to evaluate zinc status of the newborn babies with NTD and their mothers. Eighty newborn babies with NTD and their mothers served as cases. Eighty apparently normal newborn babies and their mothers served as controls. Serum and scalp hair zinc levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal mothers were 74.1 +/- 4.1 micrograms/dl and 142.3 +/- 8.0 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels of the mothers who delivered NTD babies were 75.7 +/- 5.6 micrograms/dl and 129.9 +/- 5.3 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal newborn babies were 77.8 +/- 5.3 micrograms/dl and 188.8 +/- 6.2 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in NTD babies were 80.1 +/- 12.9 micrograms/dl and 174.2 +/- 10.7 micrograms/g respectively. The hair zinc levels of the affected babies and their mothers were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the controls. This study has found association between NTD and decreased hair zinc levels and large population based studies are recommended to confirm the association between zinc and NTD and to investigate whether zinc supplementation would reduce the overall incidence of NTD.

Prevalence of zinc deficiency in junior high school students of Tehran City.

Zinc deficiency is a health problem in many communities especially among adolescents because of pubertal growth sprout. This investigation was carried out to determine the epidemiology of zinc deficiency in junior high school students in Tehran City in 1997. This cross-sectional study was performed on 881 students (452 males and 429 females) with the mean age of 13.2+/-1.0 yr, who were selected by multistage random sampling method. Plasma, erythrocyte, and hair zinc levels were assayed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Anthropometric and demographic characteristics were measured and recorded on a questionnaire. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a 24-h recall method. Zinc deficiency was defined as having at least two indices from indices of erythrocyte, plasma, and hair zinc below 10 microg/mL, 100 microg/dL, and 125 microg/g of hair, respectively. The results showed that zinc deficiency prevalence was 31.1% (confidence interval: 28-34.4%). Zinc deficiency was 65%, 49%, and 1.3% based on plasma, erythrocyte, and hair zinc levels, respectively. The mean +/- SD for plasma, erythrocyte, and hair zinc concentration, height-for-age, as well as weight-for-age Z scores were 95.2+/-17.7 microg/dL, 10.3+/-2.3 microg/mL, 239.4+/-54.4 microg/g, -0.40+/-0.92, and 0.12+/-0.91, respectively. As for dietary intake compared with the RDA, 50% of the subjects consumed less than 50% of their requirement for zinc RDA based on a 24-h dietary recall. Zinc intake in subjects was 7.5+/-3.7 microg, that in boys was higher than in girls. Correlation coefficients between zinc status indices were very weak. There was neither a linear nor nonlinear relationship between biochemical parameters and nutritional zinc intake. It is concluded that almost one-third to one-half of the subjects would be considered zinc deficient.

Iron, zinc, and copper concentration in serum, various organs, and hair of dogs with experimentally induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

The concentration of iron, zinc, and copper in serum, pancreas, liver, duodenum, kidneys, myocardium, brain, and hair was studied in dogs with experimentally induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was performed surgically in eight healthy, 8-month-old, mongrel dogs (group I). An equal number of dogs, of the same breed and age, were used as controls (group II). One month postoperatively, the dogs in group I showed symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, confirmed by the serum Trypsin-like immunoreactivity test, and on autopsy, by histological examination of the pancreas. At the end of the experiment (20-week duration) the dogs in both groups were sacrificed. The values of serum iron, percentage transferrin saturation, and iron concentration in pancreas, duodenum, and kidneys in group I dogs were significantly higher than those in control animals. The concentrations of zinc in serum, pancreas, and myocardium and of copper in serum, pancreas, duodenum, myocardium, and hair in group I dogs were significant lower than those in control animals. Histological examination of various organs of group I dogs revealed severe atrophy and fibrosis of the pancreas, fatty infiltration of the liver, destruction and reduction in height of the villi of the duodenal epithelium, and diffuse infiltration of the duodenal lamina propria with lymphocytes and plasmocytes.

Zinc status and cytokine profile in pediatric Hodgkin's disease

Studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and serum from 23 children with Hodgkin's disease (HD) show that serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels are closely related with disease status [patients with active disease (n = 23) 3552 ± 1551 IU/mL, in remission (n = 23) 1466 ± 613.7 IU/mL vs. control group (n = 10) 557 ± 125 IU/mL (P < 0.001); patients with active disease (n = 23) 946 ± 433 pg/mL, in remission (n = 11) 256 ± 110 pg/mL vs. control group (n = 10) 35 ± 16.7 pg/mL (P < 0.001) respectively], but no correlation between serum sIL2R levels and PBL CD25 expression and TNF-α levels. Some previously recognized clinical and laboratory variables such as histology, clinical stage, ESR, blood, and hair zinc levels were analyzed to evaluate whether the levels of serum sIL2R and TNF-α were associated with clinical and pathologic parameters of HD. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 14:25–30, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Zinc status and cytokine profile in pediatric Hodgkin's disease

Studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and serum from 23 children with Hodgkin's disease (HD) show that serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels are closely related with disease status [patients with active disease (n = 23) 3552 ± 1551 IU/mL, in remission (n = 23) 1466 ± 613.7 IU/mL vs. control group (n = 10) 557 ± 125 IU/mL (P < 0.001); patients with active disease (n = 23) 946 ± 433 pg/mL, in remission (n = 11) 256 ± 110 pg/mL vs. control group (n = 10) 35 ± 16.7 pg/mL (P < 0.001) respectively], but no correlation between serum sIL2R levels and PBL CD25 expression and TNF-α levels. Some previously recognized clinical and laboratory variables such as histology, clinical stage, ESR, blood, and hair zinc levels were analyzed to evaluate whether the levels of serum sIL2R and TNF-α were associated with clinical and pathologic parameters of HD. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 14:25–30, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.