Introduction. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder of central nervous system. Detection of Parkinson’s disease is solely a clinical diagnosis and cannot be verified by any test. Aim. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of minerals in the hair and nails of PD patients and compare them with those of control subjects in order to evaluate their possible implication in the pathology. Material and methods. Seven healthy women (66,4 ± 6,89 years old) and seven women (65,3 ± 4,7 years old) with 10 to 12 years history of PD diagnosed in accordance with the London Brain Bank Criteria (II stage of Hoehn‑Yahr scale and 80% in Schwab‑England scale), were selected for the present study. Hair and nail samples of individual were analysed for minerals using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Results. The results of analysis hair samples of Parkinson patients and control subjects show the following mean concentrations ± SD (μg/g): Parkinson patients – Fe = 11.53 ± 2.33, Mn = 1.06 ± 0.16, Na = 223 ± 31.22, K = 114.00 ± 11.00, Ca = 208.0 ± 15.62, P = 130.33 ± 17.01, Mg = 13.6 ± 0.92, Zn = 85.00 ± 6.24, Cu = 9.70 ± 0,36, Cr = 0.49 ± 0.09; Control subjects – Fe = 13.95 ± 1.40, Mn = 1.035 ± 0.28, Na = 234 ± 53.25, K = 104.5 ± 7.37, Ca = 231.75 ± 25.54, P = 136.75 ± 22.74, Mg = 15.5 ± 2.34, Zn = 114.75 ± 6.93, Cu = 12.7 ± 1.85, Cr = 0.705 ± 0.10. The results of analysis nails samples shows the following mean concentrations (μg/g): Parkinson patients – Fe = 11.77 ± 1.72, Mn = 1.06 ± 0.10, Na = 220.67 ± 41.02, K = 125.00 ± 5.29, Ca = 221.67 ± 12.86, P = 122.67 ± 8.14, Mg = 15.00 ± 0.66, Zn = 90.67 ± 6.51, Cu = 10.97 ± 1.81, Cr = 0.56 ± 0.08; Control subjects – Fe = 13.225 ± 1.30, Mn = 0.9525 ± 0.21, Na = 249 ± 46.03, K = 103.25 ± 4.51, Ca = 247.75 ± 23.90, P = 133.25 ± 11.72, Mg = 15.825 ± 1.05, Zn = 108.25 ± 16.52, Cu = 13.1 ± 1.21, Cr = 0.65 ± 0.04. Conclusions. Our findings in PD patients suggest a probable relationship between the disease and a deficiency of some minerals in the hair and nails of patients.

Key words: Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Parkinson’s disease, Human Hair and Nails.