[Hair macro- and microelement assessment in residents of European North depending on gender and age.]

This study investigated elemental status in people from Republic of Karelia to identify gender- and age-related differences and deviations from standard values typical for the central part of Russia. We used hair samples taken from the head occipital zone to determine amounts of twenty-five chemical elements. Four-point scale that corresponds to deviation range and reflects the difference from hair macro- and microelement referent values was used. The inhabitants of Karelia tended to be excessive in toxic elements and extremely low in many essential macro- and microelements. Fifty-seven people over 60 years old were diagnosed with excess in toxic elements of Hg and Pb and deficiency in essential elements of Ca, Zn, Fe, and P. Age-related differences for Si, Na, and K were also found. The imbalance for Co, Mg, I, Cu, Fe, Cr, and Se was similarly typical for both older examinees aged over 60 and younger people of 20-25 years old participated as a baseline group for comparison. That indicates the need to prevent region-related microelementosis in all social groups regardless of age. Men were commonly low in Mg and Na while I, Zn, P, and Cr deficits were more common in women. Karelia residents' microelement imbalance proved to differ from standard values depending upon gender and age which requires a personalized approach to the mineral insufficiency treatment.