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tissue mineral analysis (TMA) of the hair offers a number of
advantages in helping to determine mineral needs. First, since the
hair is a fairly slow growing tissue, there are no daily fluctuations.
For instance, if you eat bananas before having a blood test taken,
your blood potassium level may be high that day.
If you have your blood tested the next day and did not eat bananas,
your blood potassium may be normal, or even low. The TMA potassium
level will be reflective of overall, or long term dietary habits
rather than what is consumed just for a day or two.
Furthermore, TMA reflects the storage levels of minerals rather than
just what is being transported in the blood. Trace element
concentrations of the hair represents time-weighted exposure values
which make it more useful for epidemiological and nutritional studies.
Hair testing is also well suited for environmental and forensic
investigations.
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