Fifty self sufficient elderly participants from a Senior Citizen Center in Kentucky were studied to estimate their dietary intake of zinc and copper and determine whether hair, fingernails, and plasma levels of zinc and copper reflect chronic illnesses. Subjects who were hypertensive had very similar levels of zinc and copper in their hair, fingernails and plasma as those without hypertension. Females diagnosed as having arteriosclerosis had higher zinc to copper ratios in their hair and fingernails than females without this disorder. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between hair copper and arteriosclerosis (r = -0.255, P < 0.05). Results revealing that arthritis sufferers had increased levels of zinc in fingernails and copper in both hair and fingernails suggest that because of this illness trace mineral utilization is altered.