Mineral Balance Test (Hair Mineral Analysis)
• Toxic Mercury, Lead, Cadmium......exposure
• Mineral Deficiencies and Imbalances

Background
Hair mineral analysis has for many years been accepted as the most accurate and reliable method for the detection of toxic metals in the body. It is especially suitable for the monitoring of environmental exposure in individuals.
Nutritionally important minerals also accumulate in the hair and these levels are more representative of long term mineral status in tissues than levels in the urine or blood.
Ratios between some nutritional minerals are used to identify mineral imbalances, a useful tool in making targeted nutritional mineral therapy.
The results of the hair mineral analysis, together with our nutritional questionnaire, can give an indication mineral status of the body.

When To Use The Mineral Balance Test
• For initial investigation of health problem especially chronic diseases.
• To monitor progress of toxic metals tissue cleansing programme.
• For those with any of the symptoms listed for toxic metals. Click here for a list of symptoms.
• For those exposed to any of the risk factors for toxic metals. Click here for a list of risk factors.
• For those who have been diagnosed with the following chronic diseases: autism, epilepsy, all types of allergies, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, endocrine problems, all autoimmune diseases, infertility, cancer, hair loss
• For those on restrictive diets (e.g. vegetarian, vegan or fad diets)
• Those seeking to identify body mineral imbalances.

The Test
This is what is included in the test:
• Identification of toxic metals.
• Analysis for nutritional minerals.
• Analysis for imbalances using mineral ratios.
• A nutritional questionnaire.

The mineral balance test is carried out by analysing a very small sample of hair, at the Trace Elements Inc. laboratory, USA. This is a licensed and certified clinical laboratory and one of the world’s leading laboratories specialising in hair mineral analysis. Trace Elements Inc. uses state-of-the-art ICP Technology - Mass Spectrometry, the most modern technique for determining trace element levels, giving accurate and reliable results.

What Are The Effects Of Toxic Metals?
The commonest and most harmful toxic metals are the heavy metals below:

• Lead, Mercury and Cadmium

Toxic heavy metals and other toxins are deposited in joints, liver, kidneys, brain and other nervous tissue. They disrupt cell structures, biochemical and physiological processes causing symptoms and chronic disease. Below is the list of cellular processes they damage:

• Nutrient absorption, uptake and utilization in the cell.
• Neurological and nervous function.
• Cell membranes, DNA and other cell contents.
• Enzyme activity and biochemical reactions they catalyse.

There are other toxic elements which are less common than lead, mercury and cadmium but nevertheless important e.g. Aluminium; Arsenic; Antimony; Nickel Beryllium and Uranium.

The Symptoms
The disruption of the above chemical and physiological processes produce a wide range of symptoms. The following are just some of the commonest symptoms in people with high tissue levels of lead, mercury and cadmium. For more symptoms click here. Lack of these symptoms does not necessarily mean absence of toxic metal accumulation:

More information: Toxic Metal Risk Factors