Single Hair Analysis by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Detects Small Changes in Dietary Zinc Intake: A Nested Randomized Controlled Trial

    March 2023 in “ Frontiers in Nutrition ”
    Christopher J. Frederickson, David Fleming, Dan Asael, Mukhtiar Zaman, Randal Ferguson, Michaela G. Kaiser, Bryn D. Rankin, Kassia M. M. Schenkels, Andrew I. T. Hess, Andrianna R. Scott, C.J. Frederickson, Jonathan Sinclair, Nicola M. Lowe
    TLDR Hair analysis can detect small changes in dietary zinc intake.
    This study demonstrated that single hair analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry can detect small changes in dietary zinc intake, offering a sensitive, non-invasive method to monitor zinc levels. Conducted on 123 adolescent girls in Pakistan, the study found that a modest increase in zinc intake of 1.5 mg per day over 6 months resulted in a significant increase in the Zn:S ratio in hair, indicating increased zinc uptake. The intervention group showed greater increases in zinc and sulfur counts compared to the control group. The study highlights the potential of XRF for evaluating dietary zinc interventions, although further work is needed to establish a calibration curve for converting Zn:S ratio data to zinc content per gram of hair.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    3 / 3 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 726 results

      community Starting Finasteride After Being on Oral Minoxidil 19M

      in Minoxidil  3 upvotes 3 months ago
      A 19-year-old is using 2.5 mg oral minoxidil for hair loss and plans to add finasteride later, but is concerned about potential hair loss after starting finasteride. Others advise starting finasteride sooner to prevent further hair loss, noting that shedding is a normal part of the process.

      community I bought 72 packages of Dutasteride

      in Chat  113 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user traveled to Turkey to buy 72 packages of Dutasteride for a year-long supply and successfully brought them back home. They plan to use 2.5mg of Dutasteride daily along with RU58841 for hair loss.
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  830 upvotes 1 year ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Anyone use hair fiber products like Toppik?

      in Question  21 upvotes 6 years ago
      User phoenixblue asked about hair fiber products like Toppik and if they cause hair loss by clogging pores. Replies suggested that Toppik is safe, but effectiveness varies; some users experienced no hair loss, while others had issues with color or sweating.

      community Oral Minoxidil- Be Careful!!!!!

      in Minoxidil  417 upvotes 8 months ago
      Oral minoxidil can cause severe side effects, including heart issues, even at low doses. Users suggest starting with a lower dose or using topical treatments to minimize risks.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results