Assessment of the content of selected bioelements in the hair of children with infantile cerebral palsy (paralysis cerebralis infantilis)

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the content of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in the hair of children with infantile cerebral palsy in comparison with age-matched healthy individuals. Method: The hair samples were taken from several points of occipital scalp in both groups of the children. The content of metals was determined by flame-atomic absorption spectrometry method. Results: The levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in children with cerebral palsy were the following: 582, 50.8, 302, 8.91 μg/g. Conclusions: The levels of magnesium, zinc and copper as well as the zinc/copper ratio were statistically different in the children with cerebral palsy vs. control group.