Question: How useful is hair trace mineral analysis (HTMA) for nutritional testing?
This is a question asked live during the June 16, 2023 AMA.
Short Answer: Hair trace mineral analysis is included as an optional add-on in the comprehensive nutritional screening from Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet, because it can capture data for some ultra-trace minerals for which there are no better-validated tests, and it might capture a pattern that might not be picked up as quickly with blood work, such as a mineral transport issue. However, its utility is limited by the fact that hair mineral content is not well validated as a test for any specific mineral, is generally anti-validated when there is enough science on a mineral (such as zinc, where hair zinc does not go down in deficiency), and should not be used as a central piece of data without corroboration from other more well-validated tests, which exist for most of the nutrients.
If you want to become a Masterpass member so you can participate in the next live Q&A, or so you can have access to the complete recording and transcript of each Q&A session, you can save 10% off the subscription price for as long as you remain a member by using this link to sign up. Learn more about the Masterpass here.
This snippet is from the June 16, 2023, 2023 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what’s included:
Ask Me Anything | June 16, 2023 AMA
Questions on hair trace mineral analysis, the real problem with seed oils, the supposed vitamin C tyrosinase complex, respiratory chain disorders, body composition, and more.
The questions include:
What is the real issue with seed oils?
Vitamin C: Synthetic Vs. Natural
Butyrate for Hashimoto’s? What else?
What in the comprehensive nutritional screening is helping to interpret lactate/pyruvate and ketone ratios?
Is the solution to a respiratory chain disorder to take Niagen?
If I have high manganese on an HTMA, do I need to detox?
Should CFS patients target reducing their serum BH4?
What to do about low alkaline phosphatase?
If my glucose spikes above 140, should I eat fiber and take ACV before the meal, eat cinnamon with the meal, chew slowly, and move for ten minutes after my meals?
Difficulty getting Quest to do the lactate/pyruvate ratio correctly.
Is 38 milligrams of niacinamide enough to rule out niacin deficiency as a cause of low NAD+?
How does optimizing body composition help optimize energy metabolism? Can impaired energy metabolism make someone fatter?
Is monounsaturated fat the best fat?
Manganese followup.
Do you need to stop taking biotin before a biotin test?
What in "a bunch of supplements" flip the lactate/pyruvate ratio from high to low?
NAD infusions, yay or nay?
Why do I feel better after a warm shower, even better than after sunshine?
Should I cut back on vitamin A if I have toxicity symptoms but cutting back makes me get sick?
Do home blood drop tests have to be pricked at the finger?
Is it true that my boyfriend was just born a night owl?
How much eating out is too much?
When measuring ketones, lactate, and glucose at home to optimize energy metabolism, what time of day should we take the measurements?
Disclaimer
I am not a medical doctor and this is not medical advice. My goal is to empower you with information. Please make all health decisions yourself, consulting sources you trust, including a caring health care professional.
Please Show This Post Some Love
Let me know what you think in the comments! And please like the post if you found it valuable, and share the post with others if you believe they too would find it valuable.
Join the Next Live Q&A
Have a question for me? Ask it at the next Q&A! Learn more here.
Subscribe
Subscribe or upgrade your subscription here:
Subscribed
Join the Masterpass
Masterpass members get access to premium content (preview the premium posts here), all my ebook guides for free (see the collection of ebook guides here), monthly live Q&A sessions (see when the next session is here), all my courses for free (see the collection here), and exclusive access to massive discounts (see the specific discounts available by clicking here). Upgrade your subscription to include Masterpass membership with this button:
Take a Look at the Store
At no extra cost to you, please consider buying products from one of my popular affiliates using these links: Paleovalley, Magic Spoon breakfast cereal, LMNT, Seeking Health, Ancestral Supplements. Find more affiliates here.
For $2.99, you can purchase The Vitamins and Minerals 101 Cliff Notes, a bullet point summary of all the most important things I’ve learned in over 15 years of studying nutrition science.
For $10, you can purchase The Food and Supplement Guide for the Coronavirus, my protocol for prevention and for what to do if you get sick.
For $10, you can purchase the Healing From COVID Vaccine Side Effects guide.
For $15, you can pre-order a single format of my Vitamins and Minerals 101 book, my complete guide to nutrition, which I am currently working full-time on finishing.
For $25, you can pre-order a digital bundle of my Vitamins and Minerals 101 book.
For $29.99, you can purchase a copy of my ebook, Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet, my complete system for managing your nutritional status using dietary analysis, a survey of just under 200 signs and symptoms, and a comprehensive guide to proper interpretation of labwork.
For $35, you can pre-order a complete bundle of my Vitamins and Minerals 101 book.
For $250-$1499.99, you can work one-on-one with me.
Is Hair Mineral Testing Useful?