Iron content of hair in children in various states of iron balance

Iron was quantitated in various segments of hair shafts in children aged between 6 and 36 months. Subjects studied were those with iron deficiency anaemia, iron overload and a group without haematological disease. There were no significant differences in the amounts of iron found in the 3 groups of children. Furthermore, there was no correlation between the iron content of hair and haemoglobin levels. There were also no significant differences in the iron content of hair samples of different hair colours. The likely conclusion is that for maintenance of normal growth of hair in children, only small amounts of iron are a prerequisite, irrespective of the overall body iron balance.