Hair Analysis by Polarized Light Microscopy, a New Tool in Medical Research

Abstract

A new innovative and precise method of hair analysis by quantitative polarized light microscopy of optically active substances is proposed. The method exploits the combination of remote sensing and unmixing, using an own Interactive Data Language (IDL) software, thus providing a reading of the intracellular content in the hair, in particular bulb, including minerals and organic thermo-labile compounds such as vitamins, amino acids and hormones, otherwise not possible with the present Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA). The results of the analysis of 69 compounds have shown a Coefficient of Variation (CV) lower than 10%. Moreover, 27/31 (87%) and 17/31 (55%) of the pure elements have a CV lower than 5% and 2%, respectively. Among vitamins, 9/12 (75%) have a CV lower than 2%, while it is lower than 5% in all of them. All the other organic compounds (amino-acids and hormones) have a CV lower than 2%. The method is highly precise, simple and fast and do not require complex, sophisticated instruments and procedures, like in the most precise methodologies used today. Therefore, the method can be a potent tool for medical doctors, health care practitioners and clinical researchers, and be used in a wide spectrum of applications.