Zinc content in human hair of healthy and sick subjects.

The content of zinc in the hair of healthy and sick subjects were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS). A total of eighty hair samples from healthy males and females together with sixty five samples from sick males and females were collected. The mean values of zinc concentrations were determined in the hair of healthy and sick subjects. These values are in accordance with the world wide healthy range of zinc in human hair which is established between 150-250 μg/g. The correlation of the revealed values with the factors affecting trace metal content such as age, sex and health status were discussed. Results showed that what is considered to be sick with respect to certain diseases viz rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and diabetes mellitus were nearly healthy in the content of zinc in hair. Our studies showed that healthy and sick females had higher mean concentration of zinc in their hair as compared to that of males.