An evaluation of the use of changes in hair root morphology in the assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition.

A study was carried out to evaluate the use of changes in hair root morphology in the assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) among a group of black West Indian children. The following five hair root characteristics were measured: percentage of anagen (the growing phase), percentage of telogen (the resting phase), percentage of atrophy, diameter of anagen bulbs, and shaft diameter. Significant differences in shaft diameter, percentage of anagen, and percentage of telogen were found only between well-nourished and severely malnourished children. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained between both bulb diameter and percentage of atrophy and muscle circumference. No significant differences in any of the hair root characteristics were obtained between children with nutritional marasmus and those with kwashiorkor. The method was found to be time-consuming; it can be used for differentiating well-nourished children only from those with severe PCM; and it is unsuitable for determining the prevalence of the three degrees of PCM. For these reasons, the method is not recommended for use in the field assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition.