Exploring the link between hair elemental composition and oral and general health of children in Northern and Central Dagestan Russia

Relevance. This article presents data on the level of trace elements in hair and oral and general health among various age groups of children (from 2 to 17 years) in Northern and Central Dagestan. It also reports findings on the relationship between oral health indicators and the content of such macro- and microelements as Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, Zn, As, Fe, F. Identifying concentrations of macro- and microelements in hair proves to be a promising diagnostic method and aids in creating personalized prevention programs.

Objective. To investigate the correlation between the elemental composition in children's hair and their oral and general health conditions in the cities of Kizlyar and Makhachkala, situated in Northern and Central Dagestan, Russia.

Materials and methods. Established methods and physicochemical techniques were utilized for oral health evaluations to determine the quality indicators of drinking water, levels of elemental composition in hair, and methods to assess the general health of children (questionnaires, analysis of medical records of children).

Results. A correlation was established between the levels of specific chemical elements in hair, the dental hard tissues, and mixed saliva with the oral and general health complications observed in children. Water analysis in Makhachkala, central part of the Republic of Dagestan, revealed an unbalanced presence of essential chemical elements such as fluoride, iron, manganese, zinc, and sulfates. In 74–84% of the examined water samples, the fluoride content was below 0.5 mg/l, and only 13–25% were within the normal range. The levels of fluoride and iron in hair and mixed saliva indicate shifts in mineral metabolism in children's bodies. Fluoride is crucial for iron absorption, and its deficiency results in significantly decreased absorption rates. A substantial reduction in water fluoride levels, compared to standard values, correlates with high rates of dental caries and iron deficiency anemia in children from Makhachkala, occurring in about 87% of cases (P < 0.05). This relationship is substantiated by the analysis of medical records from children aged 2 to 17 from hospitals in both Northern and Central Dagestan, highlighting the connection between iron deficiency anemia and the low fluoride levels in drinking water. Further studies into the oral health of children have shown that the incidence and severity of caries in deciduous teeth are greater in the Northern than in the Central Zone of Dagestan. Moreover, conditions such as cheilitis, aphthous stomatitis, and desquamative glossitis are frequently observed in children during the stages of temporary tooth occlusion, affecting on average 38.5% of cases, and this prevalence increases to 78.2% during the mixed and permanent occlusion stages.

Conclusion. The conducted studies revealed that the drinking water supplied to the Dagestan population has elevated permissible levels of iron and arsenic. Additionally, there is a noted deficiency of fluoride, zinc, and copper, as well as low water hardness. Research into the quality of drinking water and the health impacts on the pediatric population of Dagestan established a correlation (R = 0.593) between unbalanced water, dietary intake, the severity of dental caries, and reduced immunity in children. High levels of arsenic, germanium, and molybdenum in the water and children's hair contribute to cumulative health effects. Environmental pollution is also linked to a rise in oral health issues, iron deficiency anemia, and broader health problems. Analyzing the chemical composition of children's hair serves as a diagnostic tool for detecting and preventing diseases related to deficiencies and excesses of macro- and microelements.

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