Trace Metal Studies in Bushman Hair

Abstract

Bushman women appear to have sufficient stores of iron and zinc during pregnancy and lactation; as a result, iron deficiency anemia is rare in Bushman women, even in pregnancy. Hair samples from Bushman women (young nonpregnant, lactating, and postmenopausal) and men were analyzed for iron, zinc, and copper content. Values obtained were compared with those for groups of Bantu and American inner-city mothers. Mean iron levels in the hair were found to be high (173 ppm) for lactating Bushman women, as compared with 43.2 ppm in the group of Bantu women, and 22.9 ppm in the group of American inner-city women. Zinc levels also were higher in the Bushman women. Mean copper values were much higher in the American inner-city mothers (19.9 ppm) than in the Bushman women (8.0 ppm) or in the lactating Bantu women (9.9 ppm). The sum of the metals may be more important than the individual concentrations.