Trichotillometry: the reliability and practicality of hair pluckability as a method of nutritional assessment

The study assessed the reliability of using hair pluckability as a method for evaluating protein nutritional status in adults, involving 12 participants. Measurements showed significant variability both within and between observers, and among participants (p < 0.001), indicating that hair pluckability was not a reliable method for nutritional assessment. While age had some effect, other characteristics like ethnicity and gender did not significantly influence results. The study concluded that despite its unreliability, hair pluckability could be useful in complex emergencies if the method's reliability were improved.