The data can be used in primary prevention and early detection of risk groups among the population of northern Russia.

The scientists of Petrozavodsk State University, the Flagship University of Karelia, discovered a deficiency and excess of certain micro and macro elements in hair of oncological patients. The data can be used in primary prevention and early detection of risk groups among the population, as well as in the improvement of specialized chemotherapy by adding mineral premixes to eliminate diselementosis.

The research in micro and macro elements in hair of oncological patients is carried out by the Institute of High Biomedical Technologies of PetrSU under the direction of Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Irina Vinogradova in cooperation with the Arctica research center of the Far Eastern branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“In comparison to other biological substrates (blood, urine, saliva, lacrimal fluid, etc.), hair better deposits and accumulates long-term processes of the human body affected by a complex of environmental and physiological factors. Analysis of chemical compounds of hair can be a diagnostic tool and a test to determine oncological disease susceptibility, especially in the areas with an adverse environment. This analysis also helps determine possible reasons behind the ineffective treatment,” notes Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Irina Vinogradova.

The current analysis of blood plasma or serum used in the prevention of oncological diseases hinders the interpretation of the results due to the considerable variation in elements. The methods of evaluating mineral homeostasis, which are being actively developed in the recent decade, determine the level of chemical elements in hair, yet there are but few cases of this method applied to oncological patients.

PetrSU scientists analyzed the micro and macro element content in hair of oncological patients with masses in various locations treated at the Republic’s Oncology Center. They determined the content of 25 elements, which were compared with reference parameters for the population of the central part of Russia.

The studies did not reveal excess content of such “invaluable” elements as aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, lithium, and lead. Yet, a quarter of the patients had a deficiency in iron, selenium, and silicon. A third of the patients had a deficiency in manganese, cuprum, and iodine. Half of the patients were deficient in cobalt, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.

“Analysis of iron content in hair allows determining the deficiency in this mineral before the onset of clinical symptoms (so-called concealed anemia). Selenium is perhaps the main detoxicator in an organism. Silicon is responsible for the circulation of magnesium and potassium; it fastens growth and mineralization of bones, strengthens blood vessels, helps the body consume over 70 useful elements and eliminate toxic heavy metals. The abovementioned functions of the three elements stand proof to the fact that their deficiency will have a considerable effect on the development of oncological diseases. Zinc deficiency is linked to immune perturbation. Zinc is essential for over 100 enzymatic reactions and even unsubstantial deficiency can lead to DNA damage in cells. Without magnesium, a body cannot consume calcium, which facilitates the health of teeth, hair, nails, cellular membranes. Magnesium is also responsible for a stable nervous system, so its deficiency can result in stress and apathy. With insufficient content of manganese, cuprum, iodine, cobalt, and zinc an organism stops to grow and develop and shows reduced vitality. Cobalt is intensely consumed by tumor cells.

Chemical misbalance, i.e. both deficiency and excess of elements in hair, was common to the content of potassium and sodium. These are compound elements of all cells in an organism, which have to remain in balance to provide homeostasis,” comments the results Irina Vinogradova.

PetrSU researchers concluded that a developing cancerous tumor in early stages affects the content of microelements in the hair of oncological patients. Intensive consumption of elements by tumor cells results in redistribution of elements, which reflects in their circulation and deposition. On the other hand, diselementosis can be a cancer risk factor and result in more intensive tumor growth.