Hair Mineral Status and Growth in Korean Preschool Children

The study evaluated the hair mineral status and growth of 556 Korean preschool children, with hair mineral analysis conducted on 273 of them. It found that while most essential and harmful mineral levels were within reference values, zinc (Zn) levels were notably low, with 91% of children having less than 60% of the reference level. Additionally, 33% of children had lead (Pb) levels 2–4 times higher than the reference. A negative correlation was observed between Zn and Pb levels, and Zn content was positively correlated with height and body weight. The study highlighted that 32.8% of children were underweight, with many of these children showing low Zn levels in their hair. The findings suggested that Zn supplementation, along with calcium and calories, might benefit preschool children with unbalanced diets.