Hair analysis test results, can someone help?

[Guest guest]

Hello everybody. I was sent a hair analysis test by someone and she

would like to see if anybody can help interpret if she has a mercury

problem. I'm not too good at this, so I tried to copy and paste it

from her attachment and see if someone on here can help. I would

greatly appreciate it any comments if you can. Thank so much.

HAIR ELEMENTS

CLIENT#: 24237

DOCTOR: Caulfield, MD

Direct Laboratory Services

300 Mariners Plaza #320

Mandeville , LA 70448

POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS

TOXIC RESULT REFERENCE PERCENTILE

ELEMENTS µg/g RANGE 68th 95th

Aluminum 2.8 < 7.0

Antimony < 0.01 < 0.050

Arsenic 0.051 < 0.060

Beryllium < 0.01 < 0.020

Bismuth 0.014 < 0.10

Cadmium 0.020 < 0.10

Lead 0.16 < 1.0

Mercury 0.69 < 1.1

Platinum < 0.003 < 0.005

Thallium < 0.001 < 0.010

Thorium < 0.001 < 0.005

Uranium 0.005 < 0.060

Nickel 0.08 < 0.40

Silver 0.01 < 0.15

Tin 0.03 < 0.30

Titanium 0.17 < 1.0

Total Toxic Representation

ESSENTIAL AND OTHER ELEMENTS

RESULT REFERENCE PERCENTILE

ELEMENTS µg/g RANGE 2.5th 16th 50th 84th 97.5th

Calcium 1670 300- 1200

Magnesium 190 35- 120

Sodium 250 12- 90

Potassium 15 8- 38

Copper 11 12- 35

Zinc 220 140- 220

Manganese 0.12 0.15- 0.65

Chromium 0.33 0.20- 0.40

Vanadium 0.010 0.018- 0.065

Molybdenum 0.033 0.028- 0.056

Boron 0.27 0.30- 2.0

Iodine 0.11 0.25- 1.3

Lithium 0.004 0.007- 0.023

Phosphorus 198 160- 250

Selenium 0.95 0.95- 1.7

Strontium 1.3 0.50- 7.6

Sulfur 49100 44500- 52000

Barium 1.7 0.26- 3.0

Cobalt 0.017 0.013- 0.050

Iron 2.3 5.4- 14

Germanium 0.034 0.045- 0.065

Rubidium 0.006 0.007- 0.096

Zirconium 0.013 0.020- 0.42

SPECIMEN DATA RATIOS

COMMENTS: EXPECTED

Date Collected: 12/11/2006 Sample Size: 0.197 g ELEMENTS RATIOS RANGE

Date Received: 12/13/2006 Sample Type: Head Ca/Mg 8.79 4- 30

Date Completed: 12/16/2006 Hair Color: Brown Ca/P 8.43 1- 12

Treatment: Na/K 16.7 0.5- 10

Methodology: ICP-MS Shampoo: Suave Zn/Cu 20 4- 20

V06.99 Zn/Cd > 999 > 800

©DOCTOR'S DATA, INC. & #56256; & #56441; ADDRESS: 3755 Illinois Avenue, St.

, IL

60174-2420 & #56256; & #56441; CLIA ID NO: 14D0646470 & #56256; & #56441; MEDICARE

PROVIDER NO: 148453

Lab number: H061213-0388-1 Hair Page: 1

Patient: Olif Vanpelt Client: 24237

HAIR ELEMENTS REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Hair is an excretory tissue for essential, nonessential and

potentially toxic elements. In general,

the amount of an element that is irreversibly incorporated into

growing hair is proportional to the

level of the element in other body tissues. Therefore, hair elements

analysis provides an indirect

screening test for physiological excess, deficiency or

maldistribution of elements in the body.

Clinical research indicates that hair levels of specific elements,

particularly potentially toxic

elements such as cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic, are highly

correlated with pathological

disorders. For such elements, levels in hair may be more indicative

of body stores than the levels

in blood and urine.

All screening tests have limitations that must be taken into

consideration. The correlation

between hair element levels and physiological disorders is determined

by numerous factors.

Individual variability and compensatory mechanisms are major factors

that affect the relationship

between the distribution of elements in hair and symptoms and

pathological conditions. It is also

very important to keep in mind that scalp hair is vulnerable to

external contamination of elements

by exposure to hair treatments and products. Likewise, some hair

treatments (e.g. permanent

solutions, dyes, and bleach) can strip hair of endogenously acquired

elements and result in false

low values. Careful consideration of the limitations must be made in

the interpretation of results of

hair analysis. The data provided should be considered in conjunction

with symptomology, diet

analysis, occupation and lifestyle, physical examination and the

results of other analytical

laboratory tests.

Caution: The contents of this report are not intended to be

diagnostic and the physician

using this information is cautioned against treatment based solely on

the results of this screening

test. For example, copper supplementation based upon a result of low

hair copper is

contraindicated in patients afflicted with 's Disease.

Magnesium High

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element with both electrolyte and

enzyme-activator functions.

However, neither of these functions takes place in hair. Body excess

of Mg is rare but may occur

from excessive oral or parenteral supplementation or as a result of

renal damage or insufficiency.

If one rules out external contamination of hair as a result of recent

hair treatment, elevated hair

Mg is more likely to indicate maldistribution of the element.

Physiological Mg dysfunction may or

may not be present. Maldistribution of Mg can occur as a result of

chronic emotional or physical

stress, toxic metal or chemical exposure, physiological imbalance of

calcium and phosphorus,

bone mineral depletion, and renal insufficiency with poor clearance

of Mg (and other metabolites).

Elevated hair Mg has been correlated with hypoglycemia and an

inappropriately low ratio of

dietary Ca : P.

Mg status can be difficult to assess; whole blood and packed blood

red cell Mg levels are more

indicative than serum/plasma levels Amino acid analysis can be

helpful in showing rate-limited

steps that are Mg-dependent (e.g. phosphorylations).

& #63193; 1999-2006 Doctor's Data, Inc.

Lab number: H061213-0388-1 Hair Page: 2

Patient: Olif Vanpelt Client: 24237

Sodium High

Sodium (Na) is an essential element with extracellular electrolyte

functions. However, these

functions do not occur in hair. Hair Na measurement should be

considered a screening test only;

blood testing for Na and electrolyte levels is much more diagnostic

and indicative of status. High

hair Na may have no clinical significance or it may be the result of

an electrolyte imbalance. A

possible imbalance for which high hair Na is a consistent finding is

adrenocortical hyperactivity. In

this condition, blood Na is elevated while potassium is low.

Potassium is elevated (wasted) in the

urine. Observations at DDI indicate that Na and potassium levels in

hair are commonly high in

association with elevated levels of potentially toxic elements. The

elevated Na and potassium

levels are frequently concomitant with low levels of calcium and

magnesium in hair. This apparent

phenomenon requires further investigation.

Appropriate tests for Na status as an electrolyte are measurements of

Na in whole blood and

urine, and measurements of adrenocortical function.

Copper Low

Hair Copper (Cu) levels are usually indicative of body status with

two exceptions: (1) addition of

exogenous Cu (occasionally found in hair preparations or algaecides

in swimming pools/hot tubs), and (2)

low hair Cu in 's or Menkes' diseases. In 's disease, Cu

transport is defective and Cu

accumulates, sometimes to toxic levels, in intestinal mucosa, liver

and kidneys. At the same time, it is low

in hair and deficient in other peripheral tissues. In Menkes'

disease, the activity of Cu dependent enzymes

is very low. Cu supplementation is contraindicated in these diseases.

Cu is an essential element that is required for the activity of

certain enzymes. Erythrocyte superoxide

dismutase (SOD) is a Cu (and zinc) dependent enzyme; lysyl oxidase

which catalyzes crosslinking of

collagen is another Cu dependent enzyme. Adrenal catecholamine

synthesis is Cu dependent, because

the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which catalyzes formation of

norepinephrine from dopamine,

requires Cu.

Symptoms of Cu deficiency include: elevated cholesterol, increased

inflammatory responses, anemia,

bone and collagen disorders, reproductive failure, and impaired

immunity. Possible reasons for a Cu

deficiency include: intestinal malabsorption, insufficient dietary

intake, use of oral contraceptives,

molybdenum excess, zinc excess, and chelation therapy. Cu status is

adversely affected by excess of

antagonistic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and manganese.

Confirmatory tests for Cu deficiency are serum ceruloplasmin to rule

out 's disease (ceruloplasmin

is deficient in 's disease), a whole blood or packed red blood

cell elements analysis, and a

functional test for Cu (barring zinc deficiency) is measurement of

erythrocytes SOD activity. Erythrocyte

SOD activity is subnormal with Cu deficiency.

Iron Low

Hair Iron (Fe) levels do not correlate with Fe assimilation as

determined by serum ferritin, Fe

binding capacity, or transferrin saturation. A very low hair Fe

result should be viewed only as

possible indication for further tests because hair is only a

screening test for this element. Fe

supplementation is not indicated nor recommended solely on the basis

of the measured hair Fe

& #63193; 1999-2006 Doctor's Data, Inc.

Lab number: H061213-0388-1 Hair Page: 3

Patient: Olif Vanpelt Client: 24237

level. Unwarranted Fe supplementation, particularly in combination

with ascorbic acid, can result

in Fe overload. A large body of scientific literature indicates

significant relationships between

dietary Fe overload and heart disease, cancer, diabetes,

osteoporosis, and arthritis. (Biochem.

Mol. Med.; 54(1):1-11, 1995)

Manganese Low

Hair Manganese (Mn) levels correlate well with Mn levels in other

body tissues. Hair Mn levels

are commonly low, in part due to low dietary Mn intake and the

interaction of Mn with phosphates

in the gut. Intestinal malabsorption also limits Mn uptake.

Mn is an essential element that is involved in energy metabolism, and

bone and cartilage

formation. Mn is an activator of many important enzymes including:

mitochondrial superoxide

dismutase, arginase, and pyruvate carboxylase.

Symptoms associated with Mn deficiency include: fatigue, lack of

physical endurance, slow

growth of fingernails and hair, impaired metabolism of bone and

cartilage, dermatitis, weight loss,

and reduced fertility. Increased allergic sensitivities and

inflammation are often associated with

low Mn. Seizures are occasionally reported to be associated with

severe Mn deficiency.

An appropriate laboratory test to confirm Mn deficiency is whole

blood elements analysis.

Vanadium Low

Vanadium (V) is typically found at low levels in hair and the

clinical significance of the measured

result of lower than average hair V is not known. V is measured in

hair for research purposes

because it has been postulated to be an essential microtrace element.

Indirect data to support

this postulate have been derived from experimental models. Suggested

functions for V include:

regulation of sodium-potassium-ATPase, intracellular glutathione

metabolism, thyroid metabolism,

and insulin mimetic effects at pharmacological doses.

Average dietary V intake varies considerably between 20 mcg to 2 mg.

Food sources of V

include: liver, fish, radishes, grains, nuts, and vegetable oils.

Boron Low

Boron ( is normally found in hair, but the correlations among

dietary B intake, and tissue and hair levels

of B have yet to be established. Recent studies clearly indicate that

B has an important role in normal

bone metabolism/density and may be needed for normal membrane

function. In post-menopausal women

consuming a very low B diet, B supplementation significantly lowered

urinary excretion of calcium and

magnesium and increased serum levels of estrogen (Environ. Health

Persepct.; 102 Supl.7: 59-63, 1994).

Further research is in process to determine the clinical significance

of hair B levels.

Iodine Low

Hair Iodine (I) levels have been noted to vary according to I status

and dietary intake. I is an

essential element and is required for synthesis of thyroid hormones.

I is bound to the tyrosine

residue in thyroglobulin to form triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroxine

(T-4). However, there is no

scientific support linking low levels of I in hair to hypothyroidism.

& #63193; 1999-2006 Doctor's Data, Inc.

Lab number: H061213-0388-1 Hair Page: 4

Patient: Olif Vanpelt Client: 24237

Symptoms associated with confirmed I deficiency include: fatigue,

weight gain, and reduced

metabolic rate and cellular respiration, and goiter. Severe and

chronic I deficiency may result in

mental retardation and cretinism. Breast dysplasia and cancer have

been correlated with I

deficiency.

I is readily absorbed in organic and inorganic forms. Although it is

absorbed in the stomach, most

absorption occurs in the small intestine. Good dietary sources of I

include: seafood, kelp,

sunflower seeds, mushrooms, eggs, beef liver, cheddar cheese, and

peanuts as well as iodized

salt.

If hair I is low, and thyroid function is questionable, thyroid

parameters should be checked (TSH,

T-3 and T-4).

Lithium Low

Lithium (Li) is normally found in hair at very low levels. Hair Li

correlates with high dosage of Li

carbonate in patients treated for Affective Disorders. However, the

clinical significance of low hair

Li levels is not certain at this time. Thus, hair Li is measured

primarily for research purposes.

Anecdotally, clinical feedback to DDI consultants suggests that low

level Li supplementation may

have some beneficial effects in patients with behavioral/emotional

disorders. Li occurs almost

universally in water and in the diet; excess Li is rapidly excreted

in urine.

Li at low levels may have essential functions in humans.

Intracellularly, Li inhibits the conversion

of phosphorylated inositol to free inositol. In the nervous system

this moderates neuronal

excitability. Li also influences monamine neurotransmitter

concentrations at the synapse (this

function is increased when Li is used therapeutically for mania or

bipolar illness).

A confirmatory test for low Li is measurement of Li in blood

serum/plasma.

Total Toxic Element Indication

The potentially toxic elements vary considerably with respect to

their relative toxicities.

The accumulation of more than one of the most toxic elements may have

synergistic adverse

effects, even if the level of each individual element is not

strikingly high. Therefore, we present a

total toxic element " score " which is estimated using a weighted

average based upon relative

toxicity. For example, the combined presence of lead and mercury will

give a higher total score

than that of the combination of silver and beryllium.

& #63193; 1999-2006 Doctor's Data, Inc.