The Relationship of Hair Zinc Concentrations to Height, Weight, Age, and Sex in the Normal Population

Abstract

Hair samples from 49 normal individuals (children and adults) were assessed for concentrations of Zn. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between Zn values and height, weight and age. In children (< 240 mo.), these relationships were linear, positive and statistically significant. A linear regression equation using all these variables accounted for 47.7% of the variance in hair Zn concentrations. In adults (> 240 mo.) the correlation coefficients between hair Zn and height, weight and age were not significant, with the exception of the negative correlation between hair Zn and weight (r = -0.464; P < 0.047). A multivariate linear regression equation accounted for .apprx. 24.6% of the variability of hair Zn values. In children and adults, tests for sex differences in means and SD using raw score and residual values failed to reveal any significant differences. No significant sex differences were observed between corresponding correlation coefficients. Future studies utilizing hair must systematically or mathematically control for individual variation in Zn concentrations due to differences in age, weight and height.