Examination of the Elemental Composition of Hair in Cholelithiasis, Kidney Stones, Hypertension, and Diabetes by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry

In the 2014 study, researchers investigated the elemental composition of human hair from 43 patients with kidney stones, cholelithiasis, hypertension, and diabetes, compared to 32 controls, to determine if hair could serve as a reliable marker for these conditions. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM/EDS), they analyzed hair samples specifically in the anagen phase and observed variations in elemental content along the hair from the bulb through the root to the follicle and shaft. The study focused particularly on the bulb part of the hair, providing characteristic EDS spectra for the illnesses examined. However, the summary does not provide the study's conclusions regarding the reliability of hair as a marker for the health problems mentioned.