The Investigation of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns from Human Hair in Correlation with Dietary Habits

Authors

Savannah Gore, Brigham Young University
Beverly L. Roeder, Brigham Young University

Keywords

x-ray, human hair, dietary habits, eating disorders

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

Eating disorders, namely anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are a serious problem affecting 1-5% of high school and college age women in the US. Unfortunately, the diagnostic methods used to determine if an individual is suffering from AN or BN are, for the most part, based on fallible self-report data. In an attempt to alleviate this problem, a quantitative, biologically based test able to accurately diagnosis AN 80% of the time using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope fractionation in hair was developed. In an effort to raise the accuracy of this test, I looked at x-ray diffraction patterns from hair to see if changes in the molecular structure reflected the severe malnutrition found in individuals suffering from eating disorders.

Recommended Citation

Gore, Savannah and Roeder, Beverly L. (2013) "The Investigation of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns from Human Hair in Correlation with Dietary Habits," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1075.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1075