• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.212-219
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the association between hair mineral levels and nutrient intakes, age, and BMI in female adults who visited a woman's clinic located in Seoul. Dietary intakes were assessed by food frequency questionnaire and mineral levels were measured in collected hairs, and the relationship between these was examined. The average daily nutrient intakes of subjects were compared to those of the KDRIs, and the energy intake status was fair. The average intake of calcium in women of 50 years and over was 91.35% of KDRls and the potassium intake was greatly below the recommended levels in all age groups. In the average hair mineral contents in subjects, calcium and copper exceeded far more than the reference range while selenium was very low with 85.19% of subjects being lower than the reference value. In addition, the concentrations of sodium, potassium, iron, and manganese in the hair were below the reference ranges in over 15% of subjects. The concentrations of sodium, chromium, sulfur, and cadmium in the hair showed positive correlations (P < 0.05) with age, but the hair zinc level showed a negative correlation (P < 0.05) with age. The concentrations of sodium, potassium, chromium, and cadmium in the hair showed positive correlations (P < 0.05) with BMI. Some mineral levels in subjects of this study showed significant correlations with nutrient intakes, but it seems that the hair mineral content is not directly influenced by each mineral intake. As described above, some hair mineral levels in female adults deviated from the normal range, and it is considered that nutritional intervention to control the imbalance of mineral nutrition is required. Also, as some correlations were shown between hair mineral levels and age, BMI, and nutrient intakes, the possibility of utilizing hair mineral analysis for specific purposes in the future is suggested.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2008

This study was carried out to compare the hair mineral status of obese, over-weighted and non-obese individuals, to gather basic data for customizing menu development and to create an education manual for the obese persons. Food preferences or various disease states could be suggested by different mineral patterns in TMA(tissue mineral analysis). The results indicated that Zn status was considerably lower in the obese individuals than in the non-obese(p<0.001) whereas hair Na(p<0.0001), K(p<0.01) and Fe(p<0.05) were at significantly higher levels in the obese individuals. The ratio of Ca/K(p<0.001) was significantly lower in the obese than in the non-obese. But the levels of hair toxic minerals such as Sb, As, Hb, Al et al. were not differ according to BMI groups. The obtained data demonstrate the changes of hair mineral content in both overweight and obese individuals thus suggesting metabolic mineral disturbance in those groups.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.249-259
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• 2007

Objectives : We performed this study to analyze correlation among hair tissue minaral ratio, autonomic function and obesity. Methods : Subjects were gathered from January 2005 to March 2007. This study was carried out on 263 subjects who had visited Garosero oriental clinic and had no previous cardiovascular disease and thyroid disease. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, tissue mineral ratio and obesity degree were statistically compared with correlation and T-test analysis. Results : The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Normal group were predominant over obesity group in HRV parameters(SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF). 2. Ca/P, Ca/K, Na/K and Fe/Cu, Na/Mg ratio in hair tissue mineral ratio have correlation with BMR, BMI and waist circumference. 3. Ca/P ratio has correlation with LF norm in HRV, and Na/K with HF, Na/Mg with LF, equally. Conclusions : Taken together these results may suggest that there are significant relationships between hair tissue mineral analysis and HRV.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2008

Purpose: Patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease are at risk for trace element deficiency due to impaired absorption and gastrointestinal loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trace element status of patients with gastrointestinal disease by blood and hair analysis, and to determine the usefulness of hair mineral analysis for diagnosing trace element deficiency not detected by a blood test. Methods: An analysis of hair minerals was performed and compared with blood mineral analysis in 13 patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease. The concentration of each element in the hair and blood was compared in the subgroups based on parenteral nutritional support or clinical symptoms. Results: Almost all patients had trace element deficiency. The trace elements deficient in the blood or hair analysis included zinc, selenium and copper. The hair zinc concentration was significantly lower in the group receiving parenteral nutritional support. The hair selenium concentration was statistically associated with the clinical symptoms of hair loss, brittle hair and loss of hair pigmentation. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease should receive adequate zinc and selenium replacement to avoid trace element deficiency especially when treated with long-term parenteral nutrition. Hair mineral analysis is useful as a complementary tool for the detection of a trace element deficiency.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-26
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• 2006

Hair tissue mineral analysis is widely accepted for assessing essential and toxic elements which can give information about disease, metabolic disorder, nutritional imbalance, drug abuse, environmental exposure and so on. In Oriental Medicine, hair have been used as a diagnostic method which reflects the physiological and pathological status of body, especially kidney system(腎臟) and blood(血) like the quotations from Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑), 'hair belongs to kidney system(髮屬腎)' and 'hair is the remainder of blood(髮者血之餘)' Therefore we have suggested that HTMA have possibility to be utilized for screening and treatment for obesity, growth disorder, general deficiency syndrome(諸虛證), etc. in Oriental Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2007

Minerals play important roles in biological processes. Hair mineral analysis has the advantages of conveniences in sampling and observing the profiles of multiple minerals simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to compare hair mineral contents between urban and local middle school students, and to find out the relation with nutrient intakes and clinical symptoms. Ten nutritional minerals and 7 environmental mineral contents were analyzed in the hair samples of 44 and 37 male students who resided in urban and local area, respectively. And their nutrient intake and clinical symptom score were estimated from questionnaire. The average age, height, and weight were 15.1 years, 168.4 cm, 56.8 kg in urban subjects and 15.4 years, 169.1 cm, 61.9 kg in local subjects, respectively. The residence types were apartment (63.6%) and small-sized apartment (22.7%) in urban subjects and apartment (51.4%) and house (37.8%) in local subjects. The primary water sources were purified water (38.3%), running water (18.2%) in urban subjects and purified water (32.4%), underground water (27.0%) in local subjects, respectively. Daily energy and nutrient intakes were not significantly different between two groups. Among the surveyed 17 clinical symptoms, the scores of constipation, cold, anxieties and total score of clinical symptoms in urban subjects were significantly love. than those in local subjects. Hair contents of Na, Mg, Ca, Cu, V Al, As were significantly higher, while U was lower in urban subjects compared to those in rural subjects. Hair contents of Ni and U were significantly correlated with food intake, and Cr, V, Al, Sb, As, U showed a correlation with energy intake. Hair Mg level showed significantly negative correlation with total clinical symptom score. In conclusion, hair mineral profile between urban and local students was significantly different. And some of these minerals were significantly correlated with food and nutrient intakes. Especially hair magnesium was significantly correlated with total clinical symptom score. Therefore, hair mineral levels would be needed for more systematic study elucidating potentiality as a useful clinical tool.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the dietary nutrient intake status and hair mineral content of Korean young children. Methods: Fifty-five children who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were divided into three groups by age: infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The 24-hour recall method was used to collect the food intake data of the subjects. Hair mineral analysis was conducted using a Mass Spectrometer. Serum iron, ferritin, and calcium were also measured. Results: The mean energy intakes of the subjects were 730.3 kcal, 994.3 kcal, and 1,482.9 kcal for each age group. The mean percentage of energy intake compared to recommendation was 101.4% and was not different by age group. Toddlers of 37.8% and preschoolers of 54.5% consumed less than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of calcium. Infants of 28.6%, toddlers of 10.8% and preschoolers of 9.1% consumed less than the EAR of iron. In the case of zinc, copper, and selenium, only 0% to 5% of toddlers and none of the preschoolers consumed less than the EAR of those minerals. The hair calcium, iron and copper concentrations were lower in toddlers and preschoolers than those in infants. Serum calcium levels of preschoolers were significantly lower than those of infants, whereas serum iron and ferritin levels were not. Conclusion: Hair calcium, iron, and copper concentrations were significantly lower in toddlers and preschoolers than in infants. Insufficient dietary intake of calcium and iron seems to be related with decreased hair mineral contents in young children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2011

Previous studies have shown that plant-based vegetarian diets, which typically contain a variety of antioxidants and dietary fiber, help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. However, some studies have reported that vegetarian diets can lead to deficiencies in protein and trace minerals compared to non-vegetarian diets. This study was conducted to compare anthropometric measurements, blood parameters, dietary intake, and hair mineral status in long-term vegetarians (MV; moderate vegan, LV; lacto-ovo vegetarian) and non-vegetarians (NV). Thirty MV (12 males, 18 females; mean age, $50.58{\pm}5.05$ years), 15 LV (11 males, four females; mean age, $49.45{\pm}4.97$ years), and 30 NV (15 males, 15 females; mean age, $48.90{\pm}3.62$ years) participated. No significant differences were observed for age, height, weight, or body mass index, but body fat was significant lower in MV and LV males than that in NV males. White blood cell counts of MV, LV, and NV male subjects were significantly different. Dietary intake data showed that plant protein and plant iron intake were significantly higher in MV and LV than those in NV. Animal protein, animal fat, and animal iron intake were significantly higher in NV than those in MV and LV. A hair mineral analysis showed that calcium and iron were higher in the hair of MV and LV than those in NV. Zinc concentration in hair was not significantly different among the groups. The results suggest that vegetarian diets are adequate to sustain mineral status to at least the same degree as that of non-vegetarian diets.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2006

Purpose : The reliability of hair mineral analyses regarding nutritional status, environmental exposure or diseases is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the normal reference range of hair mineral concentration of Korean children. Methods : We examined hair mineral concentrations of 223 children(3-12 yrs old, 110 boys, 113 girls, mean age $8.8{\pm}2.2$ yrs old) living in the northern area of Seoul. The trace elements including six toxic elements(Al, As, Cd, Ba, Hg, Pb) and 11 nutritional elements(Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se) were analyzed by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). Results : The mean concentrations of Ca and Mg were higher in girls than in boys. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cr were higher in boys than girls. The Zn, Ca, Mg, Cu and Hg levels in hair samples were positively correlated with increasing age. The Zn levels of the Korean children's hair samples appear to be lower than that of other countries' reference values. Conclusion : There are considerable differences in hair mineral concentrations by age, sex and race. Additional research is needed to establish Korean reference values, and to evaluate the usefulness of hair mineral analyses as a screening tool for nutrition- and environment-related childhood diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2004

We have sent the 1000 hair samples to USA and received the results from USA because the programs for the interpretation of Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA) result is not opened yet in Korea. Therefore, the study will analyze the relationship between the hair for Korean and minerals and make a classification system. To achieve the goal, first of all, we coded the results of patients and classified the analyzed results which are the interrelationship between the minerals and dietary situation and the heavy metals and diseases through the statistical methods. Finally we classified 8 metabolic type using decision tree classifier.