A comparison of root diameter and protein content of hair to serum protein, urinary nitrogen, and diet in preschool children

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the use of hair root diameter and protein/root as a practical and reliable field method for assessment of protein nutritional status. Subjects were thirty-five Caucasian preschool children from rural low-income families. Hair root diameter and protein/root were compared to urinary nitrogen/creatinine ratio, height-age percentile, weight-age percentile, total serum protein, and serum albumin. Low but statistically significant correlation coefficients were found for hair root diameter to protein/root and for hair root diameter to serum albumin and TSP. No relationship was shown between hair and the other parameters measured. Mean hair root diameters and percentage anagen and telogen roots greatly exceeded the suggested standards. The suggested standards are based on research with Negroid and Asian hair while Caucasian hair was studied in this research. Racial differences in hair parameters may exist. All subjects had diets which exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein but a large number had diets lower than recommended in iron, niacin, and calories. Children whose diets were low in calories had mean hair root bulb diameters close to the group mean root diameter. There was a larger number than expected of underweight and undersized children when heights and weights were compared to standards. It is recommended that future studies relating hair parameters to protein nutrition have larger numbers of subjects or greater dietary control than was possible in this study.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Nutrition and Foods

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Nutrition and Foods

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1973

Author dc:creator

• Spencer, Elizabeth S.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76223

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76223