TY - JOUR AU - Anggraini, Dwi Rita AU - Feriyawati, Lita AU - Sitorus, Mega Sari AU - Syarifah, Siti PY - 2022/02/14 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Analysis of Zinc and Copper Serum Levels in Premature Hair Graying at Young Age JF - Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences JA - Open Access Maced J Med Sci VL - 10 IS - A SE - Pathology DO - 10.3889/oamjms.2022.8383 UR - https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/8383 SP - 283-286 AB - <div><p class="Pa6"><strong><span lang="EN-GB">BACKGROUND: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">Premature canities or premature hair graying is a terminology for early hair graying at an unusual age, with unclear etiology. The pathogenesis of graying is multifactorial such as genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. The risk factor of premature graying is a deficiency of micronutrient serum such as zinc, copper, and selenium.</span></p></div><div><p class="Pa6"><strong><span lang="EN-GB">AIM: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">The aim of the present study was to examine the role of zinc and copper serum concentrations in premature hair graying as well as the relationship between them.</span></p></div><div><p class="Pa6"><strong><span lang="EN-GB">MATERIALS AND METHODS: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">This study was a cross-sectional recruited 40 consecutive respondents suffering from premature graying and healthy controls, male sex and aged &lt;25 years. The serum samples were collected to detect zinc and copper with atomic absorption spectrophotometry.</span></p></div><div><p class="Pa6"><strong><span lang="EN-GB">RESULTS: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">The mean age of cases was 20.28 ± 1.99 years and controls were 21.25 ± 2.02. Zinc serum concentration was significantly lower in premature hair graying compared with controls (0.48 ± 0.19 vs. 1.92 ± 0.68 ug/dL, p = 0.001) while copper serum concentration was not significantly lower in premature hair gray compared with controls (0.08 ± 0.03 vs. 0.09 ± 0.18 ug/dL, p = 0.706).</span></p></div><div><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>A low zinc serum level may contribute to premature hair graying of college students at Universitas Sumatera Utara.</div> ER -