Research Article: Relationships Between Hair Chemical Elements and Nutritional Status in Oldest-Old and Centenarian Populations
Abstract:
Hair is a proteinaceous fibre with a strong hierarchical organization of subunits consisting of ?-keratin chains. Most metals have a high affinity for sulfhydryl groups of amino acids that constitute keratin, and uncharged metals combine with the hydrophobic core of the melanin polymer in hair structure, which make metals persistent in hair for a long time. Therefore, a hair elemental analysis may be an effective option for revealing significant information on people’s nutritional status. Chemical elements in hair not only reflect chemical body pools but also reflect age-related changes in nutritional requirements and metabolic processes. Children and adults had significant differences in elemental levels as found in a US population. A study concerning a Sudanese population found different elemental levels across age groups. Chemical element levels in hair were also clearly age dependent as described in a study in Pakistan., As a non-invasive sample, hair is ideally suited for analyzing chemical elements influencing and indicating nutritional status in older people.
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