Hair Calcium Paradox: A Report of Two Cases of Controlled Intermittent Dietary Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D Supplementation vs. a Case of Non-Supplementation

The study investigated the effects of intermittent dietary supplementation with calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and vitamin D on hair and whole blood trace element profiles in 48 healthy subjects, focusing on three perimenopausal women. It was found that women generally had higher hair Ca and Mg levels than men. Interestingly, in perimenopausal women with initially high hair concentrations of Ca, Mg, and silicon (Si), supplementation led to a decrease in these elements in the hair, a phenomenon termed the "calcium paradox." The study concluded that hair trace element profiles are crucial for customizing dietary supplementation, as hair acts as a "memory tissue" reflecting long-term nutritional status, unlike blood, which equilibrates with surrounding biochemical pools. Simultaneous supplementation of Ca, Mg, and vitamin D, tailored to individual hair trace element profiles, was suggested to potentially improve bone mineralization.