TRACE-ELEMENT CORRELATIONS WITH AGE AND SEX IN HUMAN FINGERNAILS

Concentrations of 17 elements in fingernails of 92 control individuals with ages ranging from 4 months to 93 years living in a relatively non-industrial environment were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Statistical analysis demonstrated several different pattems of trace element correlation with age and sex. Bromine, Co,Cr,Fe,Na and Sb were found to be negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with age, while Zn was positively correlated (p < 0.05). Silver, Au, Se, and Zn concentrations were found to be higher in females than in males. Males had higher concentrations of Na and K than females. Significant interelement correlations were also observed. The age and sex variations observed should prove to be useful in the proper interpretation of elemental imbalances associated with degenerative neurological diseases, especially in view of recent reports that markers for AD have been detected in external tissue.