Trace Element Indices in Hair and Saliva of School Children

Abstract

Evaluation of essential trace elements in hair and saliva is gradually being accepted as a useful tool in both scientific research and the diagnoses of disease. The normal concentration of these trace elements in hair and saliva; iron, zinc, copper, manganese were determined in 265 healthy children (7-9y) and their relationship to the health and the learning ability of the children were also investigation. The concentration of these trace elements in hair and saliva were in (Hair: Fe 28.47±0.70mg/kg; Zn 172.08±4.49me/kg; Cu 21.0340.79kg; Mn 1.30±0.05kg and Saliva: Fe 1.06±0.03mg; Zn 0.64±0.39mg; Cu 0.19±0.09mg; Mn 0.11±0.00 nmol/L). There was a significant high levels of trace element in hair but reduced concentration in saliva samples when compared with the reference means (P<0.05 in each case). There is a strong correlation between Zn concentration in saliva and Zn concentration in hair (P<0.05). Also there is a significant relatively low saliva Mn levels compared with the proportion that meets the thresholds (0.11±0.003nmol/l). In comparing samples with same parameters there was no significant correlation in most of the parameters. Anthropometric data and socioeconomic status had no effect on the levels of these elements in hair and saliva. The results indicate the possibility of assessing the presence of these elements using non-invasive methods in the absence of contamination and substantiate the potential of hair and saliva as a biomarker but could not ascertain the exact tolerable levels of the elements.