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A Developmental Study of Sex Differences in Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Patterns at Ages 6, 12 and 18 Rick Malter, Ph.D. 928 649-9343 Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Fourth Quarter, 2005 Volume 20, No. 4 pp. 245-254 Abstract The close relationship between estrogen, copper and calcium suggested that significant gender differences would be found in Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) data for calcium, magnesium, and copper at different age levels. The estrogen, copper and calcium relationships also suggested that significant gender differences would be found in HTMA data at different age levels for certain ratios: calcium/potassium (Ca/K), calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P), calcium/magnesium (Ca/Mg), sodium/magnesium (Na/Mg) and zinc/copper (Zn/Cu). The HTMA data in this study showed significant differences between males and females in levels of calcium and magnesium at ages 6, 12 and 18. Female calcium and magnesium levels were consistently higher at all three age levels. At age 18, significant gender differences were found in copper levels with females showing higher copper levels. Females also showed higher copper levels at ages 6 and 12, but the differences were not statistically significant. However, these elevated HTMA copper levels may be clinically significant for females. Significant differences between genders were found at all three age levels for the Ca/P ratios with higher female Ca/P ratios. At age 12, significant gender differences were found in Ca/K ratios with females showing higher Ca/P ratios. Females also showed higher Ca/K ratios at ages 6 and 18, but the differences were not statistically significant. No significant gender differences were found at any of the three age levels for the Ca/Mg ratios. However, the elevated Ca/Mg ratios for both sexes suggest increased risk for diabetes and addictions. At ages 6 and 12, significant gender differences were found for Na/Mg with higher male Na/Mg ratios. No gender difference for Na/Mg ratios was found at age 18. As expected, at ages 12 and 18, significant gender differences were found in Zn/Cu ratios with females showing lower Zn/Cu ratios. At age 6, no significant gender difference was found for the Zn/Cu ratio. Based on over 25 years of research with HTMA, these findings indicate a strong trend towards the emergence of slow metabolic mineral patterns with increasing age. This trend is much more pronounced in females than in males. A distinction is made between statistical significance in these HTMA results and their clinical significance. Implications for both physical and mental health are discussed. Also, suggestions are made for health education.
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