The Loss of Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, and Nitrogen in Hair from the Scalp of Women

The study involved 13 women, aged 18 to 54, who collected hair samples to measure the loss of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and nitrogen. The young women (ages 18-22) lost an average of 70.73 g of hair annually, while the older woman lost 49.18 g. The mean nutrient content per 100 g of hair was 127 mg of calcium, 13.6 mg of phosphorus, 1.80 mg of iron, and 15.7 g of nitrogen. Annually, each young woman lost 90 mg of calcium, 9.7 mg of phosphorus, 1.22 mg of iron, and 11.1 g of nitrogen. The study suggests that shampooing may affect mineral loss, with different shampoos impacting the retention or loss of nutrients like calcium and iron.