Table 3.

The content of selected minerals in hair of women in terms of their age

Parameter	Ca (μg/g)	Mg (μg/g)	Fe (μg/g)	Cu (μg/g)	Zn (μg/g)
Age 19–30 (n = 28)
Mean ± SD	1,989 ± 855	110 ± 52.4	22.1 ± 10.5	25.8 ± 19.4	257.0 ± 87.8
Median	1,735b	87.8ab	20.4b	17.5b	232b
Min–max	819–3,932	56.9–223	8.11–53.7	7.60–67.7	152–450
<RV (% of subjects)	0	0	4	7	7
Age 31–40 (n = 25)
Mean ± SD	1,400 ± 627	102 ± 43.7	12.3 ± 10.9	12.9 ± 5.43	219.0 ± 28.7
Median	1,180a	76.5a	11.8a	13.5a	198a
Min–max	914–2,108	56.8–167	7.20–25.2	7.17–17.9	102–289
<RV (% of subjects)	0	0	10	10	20
Age 41–50 (n = 24)
Mean ± SD	1,713 ± 1,044	128 ± 61.1	16.8 ± 8.21	17.6 ± 4.15	249 ± 83.9
Median	1348ab	133b	15.5ab	16.6b	255b
Min–max	909–3,247	37.4–208	9.95–27.5	13.9–23.7	149–335
<RV (% of subjects)	0	7	7	0	7

Significant correlation between Cu in hair and minerals in DFR: Cu–Fe, R = −0.35; Cu–Zn, R = −0.35; Cu–Ca, R = −0.43; Cu–Mg, R = −0.50. The letters a, b denote significant differences between age groups p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney’s test

RV reference values [5] Ca, 400–1,000 μg/g; Mg, 40–60 μg/g; Fe, 10–20 μg/g; Cu, 10–20 μg/g; Zn, 160–200 μg/g