UNICEF, on May 12, 2009, called on the world’s governments to invest more in life-saving vitamins and minerals to prevent illness, blindness and mental disorders that result from vitamin deficiencies. “Among an estimated 2 billion people worldwide who suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies are large numbers of children whose future is being compromised, often with life-long consequences,” said UNICEF Director of Programmes Dr. Nicholas Alipui. “It is imperative that governments and development partners prioritize these highly cost-effective interventions to protect children from preventable deaths, ill health, disability and impaired learning.”
It is unknown how many people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness could eliminate or reduce symptoms, allowing them to lead a fuller, more productive life, if vitamin and mineral deficiencies were eliminated. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) allows for this determination to be made.
HTMA is a biopsy type of test, which is an analysis of a body tissue. HTMA can detect the levels of 20 or more minerals in the hair. Hair is extremely useful for testing many things besides minerals. These include drugs, toxic chemicals and even DNA. Mineral levels in the hair are about ten times that of blood, making them easy to detect and measure accurately in the hair. Mineral levels are kept relatively constant in the blood even when pathology is present. Hair mineral values often vary by a factor of ten or much more, making measurement easier and giving tremendous amount of accurate knowledge about the cells and the soft tissues of our bodies.
Toxic metals are also much easier to detect in the hair. They are not found in high concentrations in the blood except right after an acute exposure. However, some of them tend to accumulate in the soft tissues, where they are far easier to detect and measure accurately.
HTMA provides a reading of the deposition of the mineral in the hair during the 3-4 months during which the hair grew. It does not measure the total body load of any mineral. Twenty or more elements are measured, depending on the laboratory. The three classes of these elements are:Macro-minerals including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Trace Minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, chromium, and some labs measure others. Toxic Minerals including lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, nickel and some labs offer others as well.
Ratios and patterns of all these minerals give a precise reading of many body functions.
The mineral values are usually reported in one of two ways.
1. Parts per million or ppm.This is used by some labs in America and around the world. It is a useful system. However, some of the levels will be very high, such as calcium, which will be in the thousands in many cases.
2. Milligrams per 100 grams, often written as mg%. This gives numbers that are 10 times lower than parts per million. However, it is easy to convert one of the reporting systems to the other by simply moving the decimal point one space. For example, to convert parts per million to milligrams per 100 grams, divide the parts per million by 10.
The levels of these minerals, the ratios between the minerals, patterns of levels and ratios, the changes over time of all these, and the rate of change in all parameter provides a picture of the changes in the body chemistry and stress response over time. Corrective interventions can be monitored and controlled easily by retesting and comparing present and previous readings.
Regarding toxic metals, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published a 300-page study in August 1979. They reviewed over 400 medical reports on hair testing. The authors concluded that hair is a "meaningful and representative tissue for biological monitoring for most of the toxic metals"
Accurate results depend on cutting hair samples correctly. Here are basic rules for sampling the hair.
1. Cut the sample from anywhere on the head. The nape of the neck is excellent but other areas are fine as well. Hair can be cut from other parts of the body, although these are not as accurate in most cases. 2. Cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible for the most recent and therefore the most accurate readings. 3. Then measure about one inch or two centimeters from where it was cut on the head. Cut off the rest of the long hair and throw it away. 4. The best way is usually to cut several little samples and combine them until the paper scale tips or until you have filled a small spoon or have 125 mg of hair. (This is not a lot of hair.) 5. Hair that has been tinted, dyed, highlighted, bleached or permanent-treated may be used. If it has been bleached or permed, please wash the hair several times after the hair treatments before cutting the sample to remove the chemicals and allow the hair to grow out a little. 6. Thinning shears or even a razor may be used if the hair is short. It must be an electric razor, to prevent the hair being mixed with shaving cream or soap. If thinning shears are used on long hair, it may be hard to tell which end was cut. 9. Use a clean paper (not plastic) envelope to collect the hair. Plastic is okay, but the hair tends to stick to it and is harder to remove easily. 10. The sample must be sent to a licensed clinical laboratory for analysis
The following are a few examples of minerals which can cause various problems when there is either a level which is too high or low.
ALUMINUMSources: beverages from aluminum cans (soda pop and beer), food cooked in aluminum cookware, use of aluminum-containing antacids, use of antiperspirants, drinking water (aluminum is sometimes added to municipal water), baking powders, drying agents in salt and other products, processed cheese, bleached flours, fluoridated water increases leaching of aluminum from aluminum pots and pans. (Today children are often born with elevated aluminum that is passed from mother to fetus through the placenta.)
Possible Conditions linked to Aluminum:
Early symptoms: colic, flatulence, headaches, colic, dryness of skin and mucous membranes, tendency for colds, burning pain in head relieved by food, heartburn and an aversion to meat.
Later symptoms: reduced intestinal activity, paralytic muscular conditions, loss of coordination, loss of memory and mental confusion.
Apathy, gall stones, arthritis, hardening of arteries, constipation, kidney stones, depression, mental challenges, ‘slow’ oxidation, fatigue, withdrawal, social problems
Nutrients necessary for healthy calcium levels
Absorption - vitamin A and D, stomach acidity, protein in diet
Utilization - magnesium, copper, vitamin
Calcium Antagonists
Absorption - fluoride, low stomach acidity, low protein in diet, phosphorus in excess
Utilization - lead, cadmium, sodium, potassium, high protein diet increases calcium loss in urine.
MERCURY
Sources of toxicity: Dental amalgam (silver fillings), tuna fish and swordfish, contaminated drinking water, seeds and vegetables treated with mercurial fungicides, medications - diuretics, Mercurochrome, Merthiolate, Preparation H, contact lens solution, occupational exposure, felt, algicides, floor waxes, adhesives, fabric softeners, manufacture of paper, production of chlorine
Mercury and Health:
Energy: mercury compounds inhibit the enzyme ATPase, which impairs energy production in all body cells.
Nervous System: degeneration of nerve fibers occurs, particularly the peripheral sensory nerve fibers. In addition to sensory nerve damage, motor conduction speed was reduced in persons with high hair mercury levels. The most common sensory effects are paresthesia, pain in limbs, and visual and auditory disturbances. Motor disturbances results in changes in gait, weakness, falling, slurred speech, and tremor. Other symptoms are headaches, rashes and emotional disturbances.
Endocrine System: mercury has been shown to concentrate in the thyroid and pituitary glands, interfering with their function. Impairment of adrenal gland activity also occurs.
Kidneys: mercury can accumulate in the kidneys, where it may cause kidney damage.
Possible Symptoms of Mercury Toxicity: adrenal gland dysfunction, alopecia (hair loss), anorexia, ataxia (uncontrollable movement of limbs), birth defects, blushing, brain damage, depression, dermatitis, discouragement, dizziness, fatigue, hearing loss, hyperactivity, immune system dysfunction, insomnia, kidney damage, loss of self control, memory loss, migraine headache, mood swings, nervousness, numbness and tingling in arms/legs, pain in limbs, skin rashes, excessive salivation, schizophrenia, thyroid dysfunction, timidity, tremors, vision loss, weak muscles.
Depression, fast oxidation, high blood sugar (diabetes), muscle spasms, weak muscles , indicates high sugar and glucocorticoid levels. Very high potassium can be a potassium loss due to excessive breakdown of body cells.
Synergistic Nutrients: magnesium
Antagonistic Nutrients: calcium, processed food diets are low in potassium
Thyroid:
Calcium and Potassium are the two specific minerals which regulate the thyroid gland. Calcium slows it down and potassium speeds it up. .
Adrenals:
It is the sodium to magnesium ratio which supports normal adrenal function. When the ratio of these two minerals becomes unbalanced, even slightly, it can have a major impact on the adrenal gland.
OXIDATION TYPE
Oxidation is a way of classifying the rate at which the body is releasing energy from the foods you eat. It can also refer to the metabolism. It can occur quickly or slowly.
Slow Oxidizer: You can compare a slow oxidizer to a wood stove that is not getting enough air. The fire is not hot enough. Combustion is not complete. Residue forms and clogs up the stove. Eventually the fire (energy) burns out.
Fast Oxidizer: A fast oxidizer always seem to be running on nervous energy, not calm energy.
Tests for mineral deficiencies /over-abundance should be made before anyone, particularly children, are placed on life long regiments of drugs, regardless of what drug companies believe is in their best financial interest.
