HTMA: How the “Low Minerals” Pattern Reveals Poor Digestive Function

“All diseases begin in the gut.” -Hippocrates, 460-370 BC

Hair tissue mineral analysis is a laboratory biopsy that can reveal a lot about mineral activity in the tissues. The “Low Minerals” pattern on a hair test tells a lot about digestion and assimilation. In many instances, the low minerals pattern tells that minerals are not getting into cells where they need to go. This is a major problem because minerals are the spark-plugs of energy production. inadequate cellular mineralization is becoming increasingly more common today. Oftentimes, the root of this problem stems from a damaged digestive system.

Leaky Gut Syndrome & Villous Atrophy

Low levels of hydrochloric acid, enzyme inefficiencies, villous atrophy, intestinal mucosal barrier damage, leaky gut, food intolerances, chronic infections, inflamed, diseased or necrotic organs are major causes as well as a result of a damaged digestive system. Gut issues have reached incredible proportions today because of:

• Nutritional inadequacies
• Toxicity
• Stress & hormonal imbalances

The hair tissue mineral analysis can reveal how efficiently certain minerals are getting into cells. When HTMA minerals are elevated, they are called “bio-unavailable”, meaning that there is an adequate, quantitative amount of the particular mineral, but the mineral is “extracellular”, instead of in the cell where it needs to be. When the mineral pattern is low, it indicates there is a “quantitative deficiency”, meaning the mineral is not getting into the cell where it needs to go. Low mineral levels are true in the following profile:

Notice the pattern? These minerals are not getting into the cells because of digestive inefficiencies. Digestive inefficiencies likely include HCL deficiency (low stomach acid).

Several minerals are dependent upon adequate levels of HCL in order to be assimilated. This is true for: magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium and selenium.

Having good gut ecology means that all of the organs of the digestive system are functioning as they should.

Meaning Of “Low Average HTMA Minerals

A person may feel they are stuck in the mud and spinning their wheels, getting nowhere fast. This is a stubborn pattern to correct for many people, as it indicates there may be chronic infections in the body, damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier, and a lot of deep healing that needs to take place.

Oftentimes a low minerals pattern warrants deeper investigation.

Correcting a ‘Low Minerals Pattern’

Enzyme therapy is crucially needed. As is HCL therapy. However if an HCL challenge test indicates a burning sensation in the gut, this is a sign of a damaged intestinal mucosal barrier.

A damaged intestinal mucosal barrier indicates “villous atrophy”, the damage to the small finger-like hairs in the small intestine that are secretors of enzymes and facilitate assimilation of nutrients as well.

Taking liquid nutrients and mineral solutions in place of whole mineral and vitamin supplements may be necessary in some instances. The liquid nutrients may help to increase absorption and assimilation.

Probiotic therapy is essential, as is taking foods which are either pre-biotic in nature (like inulin) or probiotic in nature (like L. Reuteri). The gut ecology needs to be restored, and the intestinal mucosa needs to be re-generated.