Concentrations Of Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, And Zinc In Young Female Hair With Different Body Mass Indexes In Taiwan

An investigation of the metal concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc in three groups of young female hair (n = 180), from women aged between 15 to 19 years, with different body mass indexes (BMI) of BMI < 18, BMI between 18 and 23, and BMI > 24 was performed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The hair samples were washed with organic solvent (normal hexane : ethyl alcohol : acetone, v/v, 4 : 2 : 1) to remove the external contents and then digested with a microwave digester. The hair samples were analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The BMI < 18 group (n = 45) had the highest concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc while the BMI between 18 and 23 group (n = 75) had the second highest concentrations. The BMI > 24 group (n = 60) had the lowest concentrations. Further -more, when we compared the concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc between the groups with BMI < 18 and BMI > 24, there are significant differences (p < 0.05) in the calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc concentrations between these two groups. The difference was especially significant (p < 0.01) in iron concentration.