Hair trace element contents in women with obesity and type 2 diabetes

During 2003–2006 totally 1470 women 46–60 y.o., living mainly in Moscow city and Moscow region, were observed. There were three groups of women: obese, diabetic and practically healthy. The anthropometric and clinical data were compared with elemental status, estimated by atomic emission and mass spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES/ICP-MS) analyses of occipital scalp hair. The obesity in women was corresponding to elevated hair K, Hg, Pb and decreased Ca, Mg, Zn, I. The type 2 diabetes was corresponding to elevated hair K, Na, Hg and decreased Ca, Mg, Zn, Co. So, the obtained data demonstrate the very similar changes in hair elemental content in both obese and diabetic women, thus suggesting the general pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic mineral disturbances.