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== Background == == Background ==


⚫ The hair is analyzed, looking at the levels of minerals and metals in the hair sample. Using the results, advocates claim that they can diagnose ], ] and even conditions like ].<ref name="lathe">Lathe, Richard, and Michael Le Page. "Toxic metal clue to autism: a study has revealed startling differences in mercury levels in the hair of autistic and normal children. (This Week)." ''New Scientist'' 178.2400 (June 21, 2003): 4(2).</ref>
The hair is analyzed, looking at the levels of mineral and metals in the hair sample



⚫ and using the results, as part of a proper examination, advocates claim that they can diagnose ], ] and even conditions like ].<ref name="lathe">Lathe, Richard, and Michael Le Page. "Toxic metal clue to autism: a study has revealed startling differences in mercury levels in the hair of autistic and normal children. (This Week)." ''New Scientist'' 178.2400 (June 21, 2003): 4(2).</ref>


== Controversy == == Controversy ==

Revision as of 16:04, 8 December 2006

See also: Hair analysis

Hair analysis is the chemical analysis of a hair sample. It is used in some branches of alternative medicine as a method of investigation to assist diagnosis. This use is controversial.

Background

The hair is analyzed, looking at the levels of minerals and metals in the hair sample. Using the results, advocates claim that they can diagnose mineral deficiencies, heavy metal poisoning and even conditions like autism.

Controversy

Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch published a 1985 paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association that noted several then existant commercial hair analysis services as inconsistent. Wennig has also questioned its viability for use in forensics.

Tests have shown that levels of heavy metal in the body may not be reflected by the levels in the hair. When the same sample are sent to different laboratories offering the service results differ from laboratory to laboratory. The authors concluded:

"Hair mineral analysis from these laboratories was unreliable, and we recommend that health care practitioners refrain from using such analyses to assess individual nutritional status or suspected environmental exposures. Problems with the regulation and certification of these laboratories also should be addressed."

Tamari wrote in a letter to the editor that this may be the result of lack of standardization in the analysis protocols, rather than a flaw in the concept. In addition, he stated that "any analytical laboratory, whether analyzing hair, blood or urine, has no valid rationale for recommending a supplementation program based solely on the specific analysis. Only a qualified health practitioner, who has all the necessary and appropriate information about the patient, is in the position to make proper interpretation and appropriate recommendations." Finally there is the problem that hair will be up to two weeks old meaning that the data obtained may not reflect the current state of the person the hair was taken from.

References

  1. Lathe, Richard, and Michael Le Page. "Toxic metal clue to autism: a study has revealed startling differences in mercury levels in the hair of autistic and normal children. (This Week)." New Scientist 178.2400 (June 21, 2003): 4(2).
  2. Barrett S. Commercial hair analysis: Science or scam? JAMA 254:1041-1045, 1985.
  3. Wennig, R. "Potential problems with the interpretation of hair analysis results.(Selected Papers from the 2d International Meeting of the Society of Hair Testing)."Forensic Science International 107.1-3 (Jan 10, 2000): 5-12.
  4. Teresa M, Vasconcelos SD, Tavares HM. Trace element concentrations in blood and hair of young apprentices of a technical-professional school. Sci Total Environ. 1997 Oct 20;205(2-3):189-99.
  5. ^ Seidel S, Kreutzer R, Smith D, McNeel S, Gilliss D. Assessment of commercial laboratories performing hair mineral analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001 Jan 3;285(1):67-72.
  6. George Tamari. Unreliability of hair analysis. Letter to the editor: Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2004

External links

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