The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis / Studies Documenting the Effectiveness of the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

Here are many studies documenting the use of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

Mineral Metabolism and Vitamin B6
.....Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an important co-factor to many minerals, especially magnesium. Many health conditions related to a B6 deficiency are also related to magnesium metabolism. A B6 deficiency leads to alterations in the metabolism, utilization and balance between the minerals calcium and magnesium. This increased requirement for B6 results in excessive calcium retention with a corresponding loss of magnesium from the body. (1)

.....Magnesium, in conjunction with B6, is considered Nature's calcium blocker. When either nutrient is lacking, the body will deposit calcium in the soft tissues. This can lead to numerous conditions related to an imbalance or an improper utilization of calcium, some of which are described below.

Kidney Stones
.....An imbalance between calcium and magnesium may contribute to stone formation. This vitamin-mineral relationship may explain the beneficial effects of vitamin B6 in helping to reduce the incidence of kidney stone formation. (2)

Arthritis
.....A calcium to magnesium disturbance is also associated with the development of arthritis. Hair mineral patterns of individuals with severe arthritis have shown a marked elevation in their calcium to magnesium ratio. (3)

.....The beneficial effects of B6 on some forms of arthritis may be due to its effect upon magnesium. Calcium deposition into soft tissues can develop before major symptoms of arthritis develop. Early signs include decreased joint mobility, soreness, and stiffness upon arising or following immobility.

Osteoporosis
.....Osteoporosis is associated with a disturbance between calcium and magnesium. Since magnesium regulates the transport of calcium, it is imperative to correct this disturbance in order to provide calcium transport into bones. (4)

.....Magnesium supplementation has been shown to be effective in increasing bone density of postmenopausal women. These studies have shown better results in restoring bone mineralization than the use of calcium. A study involving osteoporotic women given magnesium supplements for two years resulted in the prevention of fractures and a significant increase in bone density (5,6).

Zinc and Osteoporosis
.....Vitamin B6 is a synergistic co-factor to the mineral zinc. Blood and urinary zinc status have been studied in individuals with osteoporosis and control groups who did not have the condition. There was no difference found in the blood zinc status of either group. However, the osteoporotic individuals had a significantly higher level of urinary zinc. Urinary zinc may serve as a marker of osteoporosis development. (7)

Heart Disease
.....Atherosclerosis has been found to be closely associated with increased magnesium requirements. A lack of magnesium alters blood lipids, predisposing them to modification and free radical damage.

.....Individuals whose arterial walls have thickened and/or who have coronary occlusions that contribute to hypertension have a corresponding low serum magnesium level. The dietary magnesium intake is also consistently low in the affected groups compared to the non-affected groups. (9)

.....Individuals with high blood pressure have been found to have low serum magnesium and low dietary magnesium intake compared to normal individuals. (10)

.....Both serum and dietary magnesium status have been found low in individuals with advanced arteriosclerosis compared to control groups not having this condition. (12)

Asthma
.....Studies of population groups who experience lung problems such as wheezing and asthma have been found to have very low magnesium intake. It is also known that histamines increase the requirement for magnesium. (13)

Migraine Headaches
.....Increased magnesium requirements may be present in individuals suffering from migraine headaches. Magnesium may reduce serotonin induced vasospasm of the cerebral arteries which is also affected by a high calcium to magnesium ratio. (14)

Blood Sugar Disorders
.....Serum magnesium has been found low in diabetic patients compared to normal individuals. Dietary magnesium intake is also low in affected individuals. (15) Magnesium supplementation has been found to improve both glucose stability and insulin sensitivity. (16,17) An increase in the magnesium requirement is related to insulin resistance and blood sugar disturbance.

Insulin has an antagonistic effect upon magnesium retention. Urinary magnesium excretion has been found to increase from 30% to 50% above normal when insulin levels are elevated. (18)

.....An elevated tissue calcium to magnesium ratio indicates the possibility that increased insulin levels exist.

Chromium and Glucose Control
.....Chromium and its co-factors are essential in controlling glucose or blood sugar levels. Chromium acts on insulin, helping to stabilize this important hormone. Therefore, supplementation is important for anyone with glucose and/or insulin instability. (19)

.....High intake of refined sugars and carbohydrates causes the body to lose chromium. Refined sugars increase the chromium requirements; some carbohydrates produce an insulin response that can cause chromium loss. Increasing protein in the diet will aid in improving chromium status. (20)

Chromium and Skin Conditions
.....Chromium deficiency has been found in patients with psoriasis. These patients were also experiencing insulin resistance. Chromium supplementation improved both their insulin sensitivity and their skin conditions. (21)

Nutritional Status During Pregnancy
.....Hair samples taken from newborns and their mothers indicated that infant nutritional status and heavy metal exposure may be affected by maternal mineral status. (22)

Zinc
.....Zinc deficiency during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight. Supplementing expectant mothers who showed an increased need for zinc resulted in increased birth weight of their newborns. (23) Hair zinc levels have been found to progressively decline in expectant mothers during pregnancy. Low hair zinc persists following delivery and therefore indicates increased zinc requirements during and following pregnancy. (24, 25)

Chromium and Blood Sugar During Pregnancy
.....Pregnant mothers who experienced blood sugar disturbances have low hair chromium levels. Since hair chromium levels remain low during and following pregnancy, the pregnancy state may increase chromium requirements (26, 27).

Mercury From the Parent
.....Hair analysis studies of newborns have shown a correlation between the concentration of mercury in the newborn's hair and maternal blood mercury levels. The blood and hair levels of mercury in the newborn were also correlated (29).

Cadmium From the Parent
.....Elevated hair cadmium in newborns has been correlated with levels found in maternal hair. Hair cadmium levels in newborns whose mothers had hypertension were three times higher than the mother's hair cadmium level (29).

Lupus and Molybdenum Sensitivity
.....Molybdenum has been reported to trigger systemic lupus erthyematosis (SLE) in a young woman with an apparent hypersensitivity to this metal (30).

Molybdenum and Asthma
.....Molybdenum is a constituent of the enzyme sulfite oxidase that is responsible for detoxification of sulfite to sulfate for excretion from the body. Molybdenum has been found low in sulfite-sensitive individuals. Sulfite sensitivity is known to be a factor in triggering asthma attacks. It is also suspected to be involved in other conditions such as contact dermatitis, abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, edema of the hands and feet, and other respiratory problems. Sulfites are found in dried fruits, medications, wines and beers. It is often sprinkled on fruits to preserve color and crispness. Sulfites may also adversely affect antibody formation and carbohydrate metabolism. Legumes are a rich source of molybdenum (31).

Vanadium Enhances the Adverse Effects of Aluminum
.....Aluminum is suspected to enhance the production of superoxide radicals which may be a mechanism of aluminum's adverse effects on biological tissues. Excess vanadium increases these adverse effects (32).

Learning Disabilities and Heavy Metals
.....Learning disabilities in children have been closely related to heavy metal accumulation. Hair tissue mineral analysis studies have shown significant differences among children classified as LD compared to normal children. Increased hair cadmium and lead levels have been found to be significantly related to intelligence and achievement scores in children in public schools aged 6 to 16. Cadmium appears to affect verbal and lead impacts performance I.Q. (33, 34)

Lead Toxicity Mistaken for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
.....This was an interesting case; a women was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 10 years. Upon closer examination, the patient was found to actually be suffering from lead toxicity. Her symptoms greatly improved when her lead toxicity was addressed. (35)

Metal Allergies May Cause Coronary Occlusion in Sensitive Patients
About 1.4 million cardiac artery stent implant surgeries are performed every year. In-stent restinosis occurs in at least 10 percent of those patients receiving stents. Most coronary stents are composed of stainless steel, which contains highly sensitizing metals including nickel (12%), chromium (17%), and molybdenum (2%). A retrospective study suggests that individuals with metal sensitivity have a greater incidence of coronary occlusion following stainless steel stent implants compared to individuals who do not have a metal sensitivity or allergy. They suggest that a patient with a history of contact dermatitis or those who have a proven hypersensitivity to these metals avoid stainless steel stents. Nickel and Molybdenum Contact Allergies in Patients With Coronary In-Stent Restenosis. Kister, R. et al. Lancet Vol. 356, 2000.

Effects of Alcohol Ingestion on Estrogen in Postmenopausal Women
This study was designed to determine the effects of moderate alcohol intake on circulating estradiol levels in postmenopausal women taking estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). They found a 300 percent increase in circulating estrogen levels in women taking ERT with acute alcohol ingestion. This study would appear to indicate that alcohol intake can significantly increase estrogen levels of women taking ERT and therefore increase health risks associated with high estrogen levels. Ginsburg, E., et al. JAMA Vol. 276, 21, 1996.

Alcohol has also been shown to increase the absorption of heavy metals. Studies have shown that alcoholics are more susceptible to lead toxicity than non-alcoholics. Animal studies revealed that cadmium absorption is increased by alcohol consumption. Alcohol ingestion can therefore effect nutritional and hormonal status.

Osteoporosis and Atherosclerosis Related May Be Enhanced By Vitamin D
Research has shown that there is a dramatic increase in the development of atherosclerosis in women as they develop osteoporosis, suggesting that the two conditions are related. The increased use of vitamin D supplementation appears to coincide with the epidemic onset of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Vitamin D induces osteoporosis and atherosclerosis in both human and animal studies. Magnesium deficiency can contribute to and accentuate the adverse effects of vitamin D. Hypothesis: Etiology of Atherosclerosis and Osteoporosis: Are Imbalances in the Calciferol Endocrine System Implicated? Moon, J. et al. J.Am. Col. of Nutr. Vol. 11, 5, 1992

Both osteoporosis and atherosclerosis has been found to be closely associated with increased magnesium requirements. A lack of magnesium alters blood lipids, predisposing them to free radical damage. Magnesium is involved in and regulates the transport of calcium. It is imperative to have a correct metabolic balance between calcium and magnesium in order to provide normal calcium transport into bones while decreasing its soft tissue deposition into arteries, tendons, ligaments, etc. Vitamin D although helpful for calcium absorption into the body can contribute to magnesium deficiency, cause a further imbalance in the calcium to magnesium relationship, and therefore contribute to osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.

Protein Intake Reduces Hip Fracture Incidence in Postmenopausal Women
Protein is a major and important structural component of the bone. Low protein intake can reduce bone quality especially in the elderly. Protein supplementation has been found helpful in improving the outcome of patients who have experienced hip fractures. More recently it has been found that protein intake, especially from animal sources reduced the incidence of hip fractures in postmenopausal women. Munger, R. et al. Prospective Study of Dietary Protein Intake and Risk of Hip Fracture in Postmenopausal Women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69, 1999.

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