Levels of essential elements in the hair of children of the Barí ethnic group

Abstract

Important biological functions such as oxygen transport, energy production, and numerous enzymatic reactions depend specifically on trace elements. Detecting these micronutrients in hair samples can be useful as an indicator of the nutritional status of populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the levels of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) in the hair of Barí children. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 40 children aged 2–12 years from the Barí indigenous community of “Kumanda,” located in the Sierra de Perijá, Zulia State.
Hair samples were thoroughly washed with a non-ionic detergent and deionized water, and mineralized in an acidic medium using Parr digesters. The concentration of trace elements was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis of the results showed the following trace element levels (µg/g): Fe 190.37±134.41; Zn 107.40±68.78; Cu 6.79±4.19; Co 0.11±0.16; Se 3.19±4.34; and Mn 25.33±14.21. The Zn and Cu values ​​in the Barí children's samples were, respectively, an order of magnitude lower than those reported in the literature for human hair, while the levels of Fe, Co, Se, and Mn were higher.
These results can serve as a basis for future research exploring the possible sources of these elements and their relationship to the health status of the child population under study.