Employment Of Spectroscopic Techniques to Identify Thyroid Disease.

Human hair is a potential alternative to blood analysis for non-invasive health screening. Changes in hair composition can reflect metabolic alterations associated with various diseases. This study investigated the use of spectroscopic techniques to identify thyroid disorders through hair analysis. Thyroid hormones play an essential role in metabolism and numerous physiological processes. Thyroid disease, mainly hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, affects the production and regulation of these hormones. Left untreated, thyroid disorders can lead to serious health complications. Currently, blood tests are commonly used for thyroid screening and diagnosis. This research employed three physical techniques - Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) - to analyze hair samples from - participants, including - with thyroid disease and - healthy individuals. FTIR spectroscopy detects the specific vibrations of chemical bonds present in hair. Raman spectroscopy measures the inelastic scattering of light by molecules. LIBS uses intense laser pulses to vaporize a tiny portion of hair, measuring the emitted light to determine elemental composition.

The results showed marked differences in the FTIR, Raman and LIBS spectra between healthy hair samples and those from participants with thyroid disease. Statistical analysis indicated these techniques could distinguish thyroid disorders with acceptable accuracy. The findings suggest spectroscopic analysis of hair may provide an effective alternative approach for thyroid screening and diagnosis. Hair-based tests could offer several advantages over blood samples in terms of convenience, non-invasiveness and cost-effectiveness. However, larger studies are needed to validate the potential of this method. In conclusion, this preliminary research demonstrates the employment of FTIR, Raman and LIBS spectroscopic techniques for identifying thyroid disease using human hair composition analysis. With further refinement and confirmation, hair testing may complement or eventually replace traditional blood tests for thyroid screening.