Evidence for Various Calcium Sites in Human Hair Shaft Revealed by Sub-Micrometer X-Ray Fluorescence
TLDR The research found two types of calcium in human hair, one that varies among individuals and another that is consistent across people.
The study presented new insights into the calcium composition of human scalp hair shafts using X-ray micro-fluorescence imaging. Researchers identified two types of calcium within the hair: the first type, which is easily removed by hydrochloric acid and is found in the cortex, cuticle, and medulla core, is likely in the form of calcium soaps. The second type, which is not easily removed and is distributed in the medulla wall, possibly the cuticle, and throughout the cortex, may be associated with Ca2+-binding proteins and shows a consistent concentration across different individuals. The study also noted a significant variability in the first type of calcium content among individuals, with differences up to a factor of 10. This variability and the nonuniform distribution of calcium in the hair are considered important for further understanding the relationship between hair calcium levels and environmental or medical factors.
