Caro Ianic Simon

Interesting point. May be a link the hair reflects nutritional state it´s clinically obvious.

I send you two references:

1. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 2;8(7):e67784. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067784. Print 2013.

The amplitude and inactivation properties of the delayed potassium currents are regulated by protein kinase activity in hair cells of the frog semicircular canals.

2. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2013;22(2):257-60. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.2.14.

Hair mineral analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: associations with body fat.

Adail

I think that the relationship is VERY IMPORTANT and is not in any way serendipitous, Sumit. Thank you, for sharing the article. I'd be curious to know what other metals are identified by metallomic analysis of hair. Aluminum? Aluminum as you know, has been showing up in association with both Alzheimers disease and Autism. Serendipity? I don't think so. The metallomic profiles are likely to be highly-relevant to neurodevelopmental and neuroimmune/neuroinflammatory diseases. Our growing exposure to environmental sources of neurotoxicant metals is, IMO, a major health concern.

The other question this relationship poses is between osteoporosis and Calcium being promoted to the elderly. Should the dosages be reviewed if the above is the case? The relationship has to be considered for the management od CAD etc. if we are recommending additional calcium intake for the older people. This applies to both genders

Dear colleague,

maybe the content of ions like Ca or Mg in hair influences the status (health) of hair itself and it may be interesting for dermatologists, but probably not for general population as somebody pointed our in the discussion here.

The real importance of nutrient content in hair is biomarker of nutritional status of the proband - and nutritional status has clear link to many diseases.

I know this phenomena from research of drinking water quality and health. Drinking water quality as alkalinity/acidity and softness/hardness (Ca, Mg) - or generally "mineral balance" - can influence hair composition and is recognized as risk factor for several diseases, including mortality of cardiovascular diseases. See e.g. paper on systematic review:

- Catling L.A., Abubakar I., Lake I.R., Swift L., Hunter P. (2005) Review of Evidence for Relationship between Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease and Water Hardness. Drinking Water Inspectorate, London, 142p. (available on-line on DWI website)

- Catling L.A., Abubakar I., Lake I.R., Swift L., Hunter P.R. (2008) A systematic review of analytical observational studies investigating the association between cardiovascular disease and drinking water hardness. Journal of Water and Health 6:433–442.

See also the World Health Organization monographs on the topic available on-line on their website:

- Nutrients in Drinking Water. World Health Organization, Geneva 2005.

- Calcium and Magnesium in Drinking-water. World Health Organization, Geneva 2009.

There are also several scientific papers in journals and proceedings by Swedish author Ingegerd Rosborg based on her thesis - she looked specifically on the issue: water quality - hair quality - health outcomes.

Ms. Rosborg with team of co-authors wrote the monograph on these issues (Drinking water minerals and mineral balance – importance, health significance, precautious principle) last year. The manuscript is now under evaluation/review in one scientific publishing house.

Best regards

Frantisek Kozisek