Basic Ratios and Their Meaning

Introduction

Balance in all phases of life is critically important to maintain health and this principle applies to mineral levels in hair analyses.

What is a mineral ratio? A pure number consisting of one mineral level divided by a second mineral level. Mineral ratios are often more important in determining nutritional deficiencies and excesses than mineral levels alone, although both are important and should be considered together. The understanding of mineral ratios is extremely exciting and much more revealing than analyzing mineral levels alone.

The Importance Of Ratios

• Ratios are often more important than levels.
   
• Ratios represent homeostatic balances.
   
• Ratios are indicative of disease trends. These are not diagnostic but are research associations.
   
• Ratios are frequently predictive of future metabolic dysfunctions or hidden metabolic dysfunctions.
   
• The following ratios apply only to tests run at Analytical Research Labs.
  
  Other labs may wash the hair in various ways, or use other laboratory instruments or procedures which will result in different mineral values. If you must evaluate a test from another lab, attempt to get another hair analysis test from Analytical Research as soon as practically possible.
   
• Ratios can be used to chart progress. However, one must consider all the important ratios, as well as mineral levels, symptoms and signs.
  
  Frequently, one or more ratios will look worse on a retest. This doesn't necessarily mean that the patient's health status is worse.

The following section details the five (5) ratios most important for evaluation purposes:

The Basic Mineral Ratios

Calcium/Magnesium (Ca/Mg) Ratio:

• Referred to as the blood-sugar ratio
• Normal ratio is 6.67:1
• Calcium is required for the release of insulin from the pancreas
• Magnesium inhibits insulin secretion
• Magnesium is necessary to keep calcium in solution

Trends Associated with the Calcium/Magnesium Ratio:

Also, a very high (greater than 16.0) or very low calcium/magnesium ratio (less than 2.0) is associated with mental or emotional disturbances.

Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:

• Calcium or magnesium loss will raise the levels temporarily
• Cortisone therapy will lower calcium levels
• Cortisone therapy will raise both sodium and potassium levels
• Lead and cadmium toxicity will displace calcium

Sodium/Potassium (Na/K) Ratio:

• Referred to as the life-death ratio because it is so critical
• Related to the sodium pump mechanism, and the electrical potential of cells which is regulated by sodium and potassium levels
• Sodium is normally extracellular, while potassium is normally intracellular. If the ratio of these minerals is unbalanced, it indicates important physiological malfunctions within the cells.
• The sodium/potassium ratio is intimately related to kidney, liver and adrenal gland function, and an imbalanced sodium/potassium ratio is associated with heart, kidney, liver, and immune deficiency diseases.
• The sodium/potassium ratio is intimately linked to adrenal gland function, and the balance between aldosterone (mineralocorticoid) and cortisone (glucocorticoid) secretion.

Trends Associated with Sodium/Potassium Ratio:

Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:

• Mercury or cadmium toxicity, or an elimination of these metals can affect the sodium/potassium ratio.
• Sometimes a sodium/potassium ratio will be worse on a retest, but the patient feels better. This is because some other mineral or mineral ratio on the chart has improved, such as the elimination of cadmium or copper, or normalization of another ratio. The elimination of a heavy toxic metal is the most common cause of a sodium/potassium inversion, on a retest chart.
• Occasionally a sodium or potassium loss can occur.

Calcium/Potassium (Ca/K) Ratio:

• Called the thyroid ratio because calcium and potassium play a vital role in regulating thyroid activity.
• Does not always correlate with blood thyroid tests because hair analysis is a tissue test. Often blood tests will be normal but hair analysis will indicate an impaired thyroid function. Sometimes symptoms of hypothyroidism may be evident, but the hair test will show a hyperactive thyroid ratio. For nutritional correction, it is prudent to follow the hair analysis indication.

Ideal Calcium/Potassium Ratio is 4:1

• A calcium/potassium ratio of less than 4:1 is indicative of increased thyroid activity.
• The thyroid gland is one of the major glands which regulate metabolic rate in the body. A hyperactive thyroid is associated with fast metabolism.
• When the thyroid (and adrenal) ratios are not normal, the efficiency of energy production in the body decreases. It is like an engine that is turning too slow or too fast - power output declines.

Symptoms of Reduced Thyroid Activity Include:

• Tendency to gain weight
• Cold hands and feet - tendency to feel cold
• Lack of sweating
• Fatigue
• Dry skin and dry hair
• Tendency towards constipation

Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid Activity Include:

• Excessive sweating
• Hyperactivity, irritability
• Nervousness
• Oily hair and skin
• Occasional tendency towards frequent bowel movements or diarrhea during times of stress

Trends Associated with the Calcium/Potassium Ratio:

Sodium/Magnesium (Na/Mg) Ratio:

• Referred to as the adrenal ratio because sodium levels are directly associated with adrenal gland function. Aldosterone, a mineral corticoid adrenal hormone, regulates retention of sodium in the body. In general, the higher the sodium level, the higher the aldosterone level.
• The sodium/magnesium ratio is also a measure of energy output, because the adrenal glands are a major regulator (along with the thyroid gland) of the rate of metabolism.

Ideal Sodium/Magnesium Ratio is 4.17:1

The sodium/magnesium ratio is a tissue reading and will often not match blood tests for adrenal hormones. Usually the blood tests will be normal, but the tissue mineral test will show abnormal adrenal function.

Symptoms, however, usually correlate well with the hair analysis.

Symptoms of Underactive Adrenal Glands Include:

• Fatigue, or diminished stamina
• Depression
• Hypoglycemia
• Weight fluctuations
• Poor digestion - diminished ability to tolerate fats and meat protein
• Allergies

Symptoms of Overactive Adrenal Glands Include:

• Tendency to inflammation and inflammatory reactions
• Increased stamina and drive
• Aggressiveness, impulsiveness
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Type A personality

Trends Associated with the Sodium/Magnesium Ratio:

Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:

• Sodium levels can be elevated by cadmium, mercury, copper, iron and nickel. An excess of these minerals will raise the sodium level temporarily, although adrenal function may actually be low. Look at every chart for the presence of these metals when evaluating the adrenal ratio.
• Magnesium and sodium are rarely lost through the hair, causing a "false" reading.

Zinc/Copper (Zn/Cu) Ratio:

Using the zinc/copper ratio is a much more effective method of evaluating zinc and copper readings than considering either copper or zinc levels alone.

Symptoms of High Copper (Excess) and/or Low Zinc (Deficiency) Include:

Skin problems (acne, psoriasis, slow healing, eczema), emotional instability, "spaciness", detached behavior, schizophrenia, PMS, reproductive problems, prostatitis, menstrual difficulties depression and fatigue.

Trends Associated with the Zinc/Copper Ratio:

Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:

• A zinc loss can artificially raise the zinc level
• A copper level less than 1.0 often indicates a hidden copper toxicity.
• Cadmium toxicity can elevate the zinc reading.

Oxidation Types

Definition of Fast Oxidation:

Calcium/Potassium Ratio Less Than 4:1

and

Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Greater Than 4.17:1

Definition of Slow Oxidation:

Calcium/Potassium Ratio Greater Than 4:1

and

Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Less Than 4.17:1

Definition of Mixed Oxidation:

Calcium/Potassium Ratio Greater Than 4:1

and

Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Greater Than 4.17:1

or

Calcium/Potassium Ratio Less Than 4:1

and

Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Less Than 4.17:1

Copyright © 1987 - The Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd.