Relationships Between Hair Chemical Elements and Nutritional Status in Oldest-Old and Centenarian Populations

April 2023 in “ Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare ”

Qiao Zhu, Qingkai Zhao, Ping Ping, Qian Zhang, Li Gong, Long Feng, Yali Zhao, Shihui Fu

hair chemical elements selenium nutritional status

TLDR Hair selenium levels can indicate nutritional status in very old people.

The study examined the link between hair chemical elements and nutritional status in 152 Chinese oldest-old and centenarian individuals. It found a positive association between hair selenium levels and the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), suggesting better nutritional status. Women had higher selenium levels than men, and levels decreased in centenarians compared to those aged 80-99 years. Other elements like lead, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc varied by age and gender but were not significantly linked to GNRI. The study proposes hair analysis as a non-invasive method to assess nutritional status in older populations, despite acknowledging limitations in sample preparation and element quantification.

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