TLDR Hair mineral analysis might help diagnose diseases early, but standard methods are needed.
The systematic review on hair analysis for health assessment, covering 66 studies from 1997 to early 2012, found correlations between mineral imbalances in hair and various diseases, including autism, cancer, hypertension, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. Despite these findings, inconsistencies were noted, and most authors suggested that hair mineral profiles could be useful for early disease diagnosis. However, they emphasized the need for standardized sample preparation procedures, especially in washing and mineralization methods.
44 citations,
November 2007 in “Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews” Copper and zinc in hair can indicate health conditions.
16 citations,
March 2007 in “The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice” Proper mineral supplementation in cow-calf operations prevents health issues and economic losses.
228 citations,
February 2003 in “Urology” Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer can cause sexual, physical, and psychological side effects, and doctors should manage these carefully.
96 citations,
September 2017 in “Analytica Chimica Acta” Hair elemental analysis could be useful for health and exposure assessment but requires more standardization and research.
Hair can accurately predict iron levels in cattle muscle, helping diagnose mineral imbalances.
27 citations,
April 2013 in “Reviews in endocrine and metabolic disorders” The document concludes that using LC-MS/MS for measuring androgens is more accurate than older methods, but it needs careful validation and standardized references to be most effective.
June 2025 in “Journal of Cluster Science” Metal nanoparticles show promise for treating hair loss but need more research to ensure safety.
December 2023 in “Migration letters” Herbal treatments can help manage PCOS symptoms.
