Trace element determination in humans. The use of blood and hair.

With the present study, we intend to verify the utility of hair as diagnostic tool for trace element analysis, to substitute, perhaps, conventional materials, such as blood serum. Blood and hair were collected from male individuals (n = 107) aged 20-59 y. Determinations of Cu and Zn concentrations were performed with atomic absorption spectrometry. An influence of age on Zn in hair has been found, with significantly different values before and after age 30 y. There is no correlation between Cu concentrations in hair and in serum, and a positive one (r = 0.3554, p < 0.05) between Zn levels in hair and in serum. No association between Zn and Cu levels in hair has been demonstrated; on the contrary, these elements have a moderate positive correlation in serum (r = 0.3586, p < 0.01). The data indicate that hair may represent an additional analytical material for Cu and Zn to complement blood serum.