Determination of reference ranges for elements in human scalp hair

Abstract

Expected values, reference ranges, or reference limits are necessary to enable clinicians to apply analytical chemical data in the delivery of health care. Determination of references ranges is not straightforward in terms of either selecting a reference population or performing statistical analysis. In light of logistical, scientific, and economic obstacles, it is understandable that clinical laboratories often combine approaches in developing health associated reference values. A laboratory may choose to: 1. Validate either reference ranges of other laboratories or published data from clinical research or both, through comparison of patients test data. 2. Base the laboratory's reference values on statistical analysis of results from specimens assayed by the clinical reference laboratory itself. 3. Adopt standards or recommendations of regulatory agencies and governmental bodies. 4. Initiate population studies to validate transferred reference ranges or to determine them anew. Effects of external contamination and anecdotal information from clinicians may be considered. The clinical utility of hair analysis is well accepted for some elements. For others, it remains in the realm of clinical investigation. This article elucidates an approach for establishment of reference ranges for elements in human scalp hair. Observed levels of analytes from hair specimens from both our laboratory's total patient population and from a physician-defined healthy American population have been evaluated. Examination of levels of elements often associated with toxicity serves to exemplify the process of determining reference ranges in hair. In addition the approach serves as a model for setting reference ranges for analytes in a variety of matrices.

Deficient Zinc Levels and Myocardial Infarction

“…Since the elements are present in the hair at higher levels, more sensitive and accurate analysis results can be expected [44]. As such, it has been suggested that hair mineral analysis can be a cost-effective means of screening an individual's nutritional status [45]. As before we had discussed that low serum Zn may be the result of an acute phase response rather than primary zinc deficiencies, we suggested that the analysis of human hair instead of serum can be a useful way to understand the permanent record of Zn status in patients with MI.…”

Relation between mineral composition of human hair and common illnesses

“…This gap is gradually being filled. For example, Druyan et al [27] obtained reference values for Americans, Park et al [28] for Koreans, and Senofonte et al [29] did the same for an Italian population. However, these values can differ because of the different analytical methods used.…”

Metals (Hg, Pb, Cu, and Zn) Bioaccumulation in Sediment, Fish, and Human Scalp Hair: A Case Study from the City of Mersin Along the Southern Coast of Turkey

“…According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), human hair is one of the most important biological materials for worldwide environmental monitoring and the International Atomic Energy Agency uses hair to monitor global trends of element levels [36]. Hair as a biological tissue is unique in respect that it serves as an accumulator for trace elements, and in addition, it is formed in relatively short period of time and remains isolated from the metabolic events in the human body and its metal content can reflect the body status for a long period [34,37,38].…”