Abstract
A number of elements (Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, V, Zn) were assessed in five tissue and fluid samples collected from a group of anorexia nervosa patients (n = 15), and control (n = 15) age-matched female individuals. Analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in zinc content (anorexic < control) was seen in whole blood, blood serum, plasma, urine and washed scalp hair (with a positive correlation between matrices).