American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 26, 1212-1215, Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Increase in hair copper concentration with increasing distance from the scalp

¹ From the B. F. Stolinsky Research Laboratories, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80220

The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of hair copper in proximal sections of the hair shaft, adjacent to the scalp, with that of more distal sections from the same samples. Twenty-seven hair samples, with a mean length of 16 cm, were cut adjacent to the scalp of 27 healthy subjects residing in Denver. After washing and drying, the samples were sectioned at varying distances from the proximal end; the sections were weighed, ashed and the copper concentration for sections cut at an equal distance from the scalp, and of the same length, were compared with the mean for another interval more distal from the scalp. The mean for the more distal section was in each case greater; the difference was statistically significant except between the 0- to 1- and 1- to 2-cm intervals. The mean copper concentration for the 27 proximal sections, ranging in length from 1 to 5 cm, was 11.8 ppm, and for the most distal sections 20.7 ppm (P < 0.005). The higher mean copper concentration of that part of the hair shaft that has been exposed to the external environment for the longest duration suggests that exogenous copper contributes to the hair content of this element.