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Q. What is hair mineral analysis?
Hair mineral analysis is a method to detect
minute quantities of nutritionally important
minerals obtained from a hair sample, as
well as environmental toxic trace minerals
that may be affecting your health. The method
uses the technique of ionization/mass spectrophotometry
to measure the levels in a sample after it
has been processed to remove contaminants
that are likely to interfere with the analysis.
The analysis provides an accurate assessment
of a person's tissue stores.
Q. Is it a proven method?
Yes, mineral analysis obtained from hair
has been the subject of numerous studies.
It is considered an accurate method for determining
tissue mineral status and assessing metabolic
imbalances. The results reflect the long-term
storage level of minerals and is not influenced
by recent dietary changes. Therefore the
results indicate your real nutritional status
with respect to these minerals. Literally
100'000's analyses are performed each year
in the USA alone. There is, however, some
uncertainty about reference ranges with some
laboratories differing in their reference
ranges to others. As different laboratories
employ different techniques to pre-prepare
samples for analysis this is not unexpected.
Therefore, we recommend that you use the
same laboratory source for obtaining your
hair analysis profile over time.
Q. How can it help me?
The mineral levels that the analysis provide
will tell you whether you are deficient or low
in nutritionally important minerals or whether
your minerals are considered too high. Dietary
intake over a period of time is only one
factor that influences the tissue mineral
levels. This is one reason why BalanceYourNutrition
recommends, and provides a link to, incorporating
diet analysis in your program as it will
give you useful information as to the source
of any high or low readings. Other factors
include the presence of toxic trace minerals
and poor excretion.
Minerals can affect many functions, including
immune function, sleep function, sexual function,
digestive function, bone function and nerve
function.The levels are compared to a reference
range just as all clinical tests are compared
to reference ranges, outside which you are
advised to seek further help or/and to balance
your nutrition through dietary/supplement
intervention.
It is important to remember than a low level
can result from suppression by anti-synergistic
minerals. Therefore correcting the imbalance
rather than attempting to supplement the
deficient mineral should be considered. For
example, the presence of high copper or toxic
levels of cadmium would suppress zinc levels,
therefore correcting the excess may normalize
the zinc status rather than supplementing
zinc in the diet as a first measure.
Minerals modulate the bioavailability and
assimilation of many vitamins, therefore
your mineral levels will help to guide your
vitamin requirements also (consult our nutrient
section for information of synergy between
minerals and vitamins, see under function
sub-heading).
Apart from the nutritionally important minerals,
the analysis also tells you about environmentally
important toxic elements including lead,
mercury, arsenic, cadmium and aluminum.
Aluminum, for example, when in toxic amounts
give rise to a number of symptoms, eg stomach
pain, liver disorders, memory loss, ulcers.
Lead is another commonly found toxic element
that causes metabolic dysfunction and can
seriously compromise your health, and nickel,
found in car exhaust fumes, cigarettes smoke
and industrial waste causes headaches, nausea
and other complications.
Q. How often should I have this test? The tests are intended to be repeated in
intervals of months, rather than
days or
weeks. It is recommended that the test be repeated
in the first instance after approximately
3-4 months, then at 9-12 month
periods thereafter
depending on the findings.
Q. Are there any special requirements?
There are no special dietary requirements.
The only requirement is that shampoos containing
special dyes and chemicals should be discontinued
for 3 days before cutting the hair sample.
Also, the results are more accurate if the
hair has not been bleached or permed in the
past 6-8 weeks. Simply wait just before your next hair treatment
to do the test.
Q. What if there is no new growth because
of recent chemical coloring or perming?
It is best to wait until new
growth is available--hair
grows approximately 1/2 inch
per month. If
an analysis is needed before
then, save as
much new growth as possible from
the roots
and take samples from additional
places.
Q. May I use hair from other parts of the
body?
Yes. Ideally, you should use
hair from your
scalp, although hair from your
pubic area
is acceptable as well. It is
important that
you use hair from one area only.
Mixing hair
from different areas of your
body will render
the analysis inaccurate. You
must indicate
on the requisition form from
which area you
have collected the sample .
Q. How much hair is needed?
Not much, 0.25 grams. Only about a rounded
teaspoonfull is needed to properly analyze
your sample. Approximately 1 inch of newest
hair growth from the back of the head, near
the nape of the neck line is ideal. If the
hair is too short then stainless steel thinning
shears may be used by placing them next to
the scalp. Make sure that the amount of hair
in your sample tips the hair scale, as shown
in Step 5 of the instructions that accompany
the kit. Insufficient hair samples cannot
be processed.
Q. When will I get my results?
Results will usually be posted to you within
a week, or you can check your results on-line
by logging into the results section of the
laboratory's web site (details accompany
the kit).
Q. Can I order more than 1 test kit for family
or friends?
You may order as many kits as you like so long as the samples forms are filled
in with individual names and
dates of taking
the samples.
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