Quantitative Tissue of Human Malnutrition using Scalp Hair Roots

Abstract

THERE is at present no adequate way of detecting or quantifying slight degrees of protein or protein/calorie deficiency. Yet such deficiencies may affect health: malnutrition is known to increase susceptibility to infection and interferes with normal development in children. We therefore set out to find a measure of protein deficiency which would be simple to use on humans in the field and more sensitive than measurement of hair shaft thickness^1,2 or root diameter³ or serum protein concentrations⁴, which are subject to such influences as haemodilution. At best serum proteins provide an indirect measure of tissue protein metabolism. A more direct assay can be obtained from scalp hair roots which are easily accessible and are sensitive to systemic influences including drug toxicity^5,6, poisoning⁷ and malnutrition⁸. Bradfield^3,8,9 has demonstrated the potential value of morphological examination of hair roots in the evaluation of protein or protein/calorie deficiencies, but experienced observers are needed for this technique, which is subjective and only semi-quantitative. These studies were performed to evaluate a method which can provide accurate quantitative objective data which reflect both hair root size and partial tissue loss in a single numerical value.