Dangers Asociated with Hair Mineral Analysis

[Huguenot]

California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch:

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A split hair sample taken from near the scalp of a single healthy volunteer was submitted for analysis to 6 commercial US laboratories, which analyze 90% of samples submitted for mineral analysis in the United States.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Agreement of test results for each analyte, laboratory reference ranges, laboratory characteristics, and interpretation of health implications.

RESULTS: Laboratory differences in highest and lowest reported mineral concentrations for the split sample exceeded 10-fold for 12 minerals, and statistically significant (P<.05) extreme values were reported for 14 of the 31 minerals that were analyzed by 3 or more laboratories.

Variations also were found in laboratory sample preparation methods and calibration standards. Laboratory designations of normal reference ranges varied greatly, resulting in conflicting classifications (high, normal, or low) of nearly all analyzed minerals. Laboratories also provided conflicting dietary and nutritional supplement recommendations based on their results.

CONCLUSIONS: Hair mineral analysis from these laboratories was unreliable.

We recommend that health care practitioners refrain from using such analyses to assess individual nutritional status or suspected environmental exposures. Problems with the regulation and certification of these laboratories also should be addressed.

So, inconsistent by an order of magnitude, unregulated and problems of certification.

And they ask you to put things in your body that will change your physical health!!!

Needless to say, it is those with health concerns that approach these practitioners, so anything that impacts on such a borderline state is intrinsically dangerous.

[Ladymuck]

*tutts...then laughs*

Oh dear oh dear. Well, if this and your other thread are not taking the piss, I don't know what is.

Funny though!