ABSTRACT.
Our work conducted a retrospective case-control study. First, a search was made for the elements
most commonly associated with the prevention and risk of developing IBS in the scientific literature, namely zinc, copper and selenium. In the second stage of the study, the amount of each element associated according to the scientific erature with IBS was measured. A feature of the elemental composition of hair in the group of patients of the Center for
Biotic Medicine (CBM) with IBS and in the control, group was an increase in the level of zinc (p<0.003) and a decrease
in the level of copper (p<0.014). Based on the results of the study, we hypothesized a possible association between an
increase in the amount of zinc, a decrease in the amount of copper in the hair and the development of IBS. A reliable
statistical relationship between high selenium content and IBS could not be identified. However, the association of low
copper and selenium levels with the risk of developing IBS is inconsistent with the scientific literature, which is mainly
based on serum studies. These data may be useful for further scientific research in the field of pathogenesis and treatment of this disease.
KEYWORDS: zinc, copper, selenium, irritable bowel syndrome, hair analysis, mass spectrometry.