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Identification of Human Age Using Trace Element Concentrations in Hair and the Support Vector Machine Method

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Abstract

Trace element content in hair is affected by the age of the donor. Hair samples of subjects from four counties in China where people are known to have long lifespan (“longevity counties”) were collected and the trace element content determined. Samples were subdivided into three age groups based on the age of the donors from whom these were taken: children (0–15 years); elderly (80–99 years); and centenarians (≥100 years). We compared the trace element content in hair of different age groups of subjects. Support vector machine classification results showed that a non-linear polynomial kernel function could be used to classify the three age groups of people. Age did not have a significant effect on the content of Ca and Cd in human hair. The content of Li, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni in human hair changed significantly with age. The magnitude of the age effect on trace element content in hair was in the order Cu > Zn > Ni > Mg > Mn > Cr > Li. Cu content in hair decreased significantly with increasing age. The hair of centenarians had higher levels of Li and Mn, and lower levels of Cr, Cu, and Ni comparing with that of the children and elderly subjects. This could be a beneficial factor of their long lifespan.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the government of Mayang, Sanshui, Yongfu, and Zhongxiang, for their kind assistance with the collection of statistical data and samples. This study was supported by an International Cooperation Project (2007DFC20180) and a Pillar Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period of China (2007BAC03A11-07). We also thank the Regulations for Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists (2009Z2-22) for their kind help in the revision of English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, 11A Datun Road, 100101, Beijing, China

    Jinmei Lv, Wuyi Wang, Fengying Zhang & Yonghua Li

  2. Department of International Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Thomas Krafft

  3. Lulea University of Technology, Lulea, Sweden

    Fuqing Yuan

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  1. Jinmei Lv
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  2. Wuyi Wang
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  3. Fengying Zhang
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  4. Thomas Krafft
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  5. Fuqing Yuan
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  6. Yonghua Li
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Correspondence to Jinmei Lv.

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Lv, J., Wang, W., Zhang, F. et al. Identification of Human Age Using Trace Element Concentrations in Hair and the Support Vector Machine Method. Biol Trace Elem Res 143, 1441–1450 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9007-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9007-z

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