Minerals Nutrient Elements Calcium Chromium Copper Magnesium Manganese Selenium Zinc Toxic Elements Aluminum Arsenic Cadmium Lead Mercury

Minerals are essential elements that cannot be made by your body. They make up about 20% of the adult body weight, and must be obtained through your diet or as supplements. There are 20 minerals that can be measured in the blood, hair or urine. Functions of many of these are well known; some are not well known. Also, some minerals, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, are toxic. Of course any mineral taken in great excess can be toxic. Hair mineral analysis examines for five toxic minerals and 11 nutrition elements. Since hair grows about one centimeter a month, and is an excretory tissue, two inches of hair cut from the nape of the neck between the ears, indicates the toxic or mineral nutrition status of an individual for the past three months. For urine toxic and nutritional elements, see the pre- and post-chelation section. Red blood cell measures intracellular elements individually (calcium, copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium and zinc) or as two separate panels: RBC #1 that includes calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc. RBC panel #2 includes all those in #1 plus manganese and zinc. Serum element analysis includes chromium, copper, lithium, magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc. Comprehensive mineral analysis may provide important insights and treatment strategies for various conditions including depression, neurological illnesses, cardiovascular conditions and depression. The methodology for hair, urine, red blood cell and serum minerals is by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), where atoms of the minerals absorb energy from an argon plasma flame (7000-9000°C), which then emits the absorbed energy as light signals at discrete wavelengths or emission lines. The intensity of light at the specific emission lines relates to the quantity of the specific mineral. The exception to this is for serum sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium. These are measured by either ion selective electrode, or colorimetric methods.

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