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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. Its use is controversial.

Background

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

As of 1998, "the 9 commercial 'nutritional hair analysis' laboratories currently operating in the United States, 3 indicate that they primarily use ICP-MS, 4 primarily use ICP-AES, and 1 reports use of directly coupled plasma (DCP)-AES. DCP-AES is an older technique that is potentially less stable than ICP-AES. On average, these laboratories measure 26 elements per hair sample. Nutritional hair analysis laboratories require between 0.3 and 1 gram for the AES methods, and 0.25-1 gram for ICP-MS." The amount selected depends on the analytical method used, but sample sizes in the 50 milligram range are reported.

Unreliable and inconsistent results

In a 1985 investigation of 13 commercial laboratories published in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted inconsistencies and questionable content in their reports and recommendations:

"Hair samples from two healthy teenagers were sent under assumed names to 13 commercial laboratories performing multimineral hair analysis. The reported levels of most minerals varied considerably between identical samples sent to the same laboratory and from laboratory to laboratory. The laboratories also disagreed about what was "normal" or "usual" for many of the minerals. Most reports contained computerized interpretations that were voluminous, bizarre, and potentially frightening to patients. Six laboratories recommended food supplements, but the types and amounts varied widely from report to report and from laboratory to laboratory. Literature from most of the laboratories suggested that their reports were useful in managing a wide variety of diseases and supposed nutrient imbalances. However, commercial use of hair analysis in this manner is unscientific, economically wasteful, and probably illegal."

In 2001 a follow up investigation was conducted to see if things had improved since the 1985 investigation. 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."

Its viability for use in forensics has also been questioned.

Tests have shown that levels of heavy metal in the body may not be reflected by the levels in the hair.

Peer-reviewed findings that support a role for hair mineral analysis in medicine

Despite this lack of consensus, there is evidence to suggest that hair analyses can be a useful tool in both medical research and in clinical diagnostics. For example,

• A 2003 study in the International Journal of Toxicology found that hair mercury levels in autistic infants do, indeed, significantly differ from those in healthy children. As one of the co-authors of this paper was the chairman of the chemistry department at the University of Kentucky.

• A 1978 study by researchers at Dalhousie University found that "when scalp-hair samples from 40 multiple sclerosis patients and 42 controls were analyzed, ...highly significant differences (99% confidence) were observed between the two groups in concentrations of Cu, l, Mn, S, Se, and V.

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. Eastern Research Group. Appendix C. SUMMARY REPORT, HAIR ANALYSIS PANEL DISCUSSION: EXPLORING THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE. ATDSR. June 12—13, 2001
3. Eastern Research Group. SECTION 3 3.4 Other Methodological Considerations. SUMMARY REPORT, HAIR ANALYSIS PANEL DISCUSSION: EXPLORING THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE. ATDSR. June 12—13, 2001
4. Barrett S. Commercial hair analysis: Science or scam? JAMA 254:1041-1045, 1985.
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. 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.
7. 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.
8. Holmes AS, et al. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children. Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-85.
9. Haley B. Dr. Boyd Haley on Mercury toxicity & Autism. Interview accessed at www.youtube.com January 26, 2007
10. Ryan DE, et al.Trace elements in scalp-hair of persons with multiple sclerosis and of normal individuals Clin Chem. 1978 Nov;24(11):1996-2000.

External links

• AETNA Clinical Policy Bulletin: Hair Analysis
• Quackwatch: Commercial Hair Analysis: A Cardinal Sign of Quackery
• Quackwatch: Dubious Mercury Testing
• Study Questions Reliability of Hair Tests

• Alternative medicine
• Medical research