Aluminum: “Alzheimer’s” is very close!
Aluminum plays an important physiological role in the human body – it participates in the regeneration processes of bone, connective, and epithelial tissues, influences digestive enzymes, and affects the function of the parathyroid glands; however, its excess can lead to the development of serious neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson’s disease and senile dementia – Alzheimer’s disease.
The daily requirement is not precisely established (according to some data – 35–40 mg). The human body receives from 5 to 50 mg of aluminum daily, depending on the region of residence. Aluminum deficiency develops with a daily intake of 1 µg or less.
In the human gastrointestinal tract, 2–4% of the ingested aluminum is absorbed, with soluble salts such as AlCl3 being absorbed the best. Aluminum also enters the body through the lungs, which, in cases of high air pollution with aluminum compounds, can lead to fibrosis.
The aluminum content in the body of an adult human is low – up to 30–50 mg. The concentration in tissues ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 µg/g. The average aluminum content in the ovaries is 0.4 µg/g, in the testes – 0.4 µg/g, in muscles – 0.5 µg/g, in the brain – 0.4 µg/g, in the liver – 2.6 µg/g, in the lungs – 18.2 µg/g, in lymph nodes – 32.5 µg/g. In the lungs, the concentration of this element, when inhaling dust containing aluminum compounds, can reach 20–60 µg/g.
Aluminum is deposited in bones, liver, lungs, and in the gray matter of the brain. With age, the content of this element in the lungs and brain increases.
Aluminum is primarily excreted from the body through feces, urine, sweat, and exhaled air.
Biological role. Overall, aluminum is classified as a toxic (immunotoxic) element. However, in the body, it plays an important physiological role – it participates in the formation of phosphate and protein complexes; in the regeneration processes of bone, connective, and epithelial tissues; exerts, depending on the concentration, either inhibitory or activating effects on digestive enzymes; and can influence the function of the parathyroid glands.
Aluminum is part of many biomolecules, forming strong bonds with oxygen or nitrogen atoms.
Aluminum is a constant component of cells, where it predominantly exists in the form of Al3+. Its presence in one form or another has been detected in almost all human organs.
In small amounts, aluminum is necessary for the body, especially for bone tissue; however, in excess, this metal can pose a serious health risk.
In patients with arthritis, the aluminum content in the blood increases fivefold.
It has been established that the introduction of aluminum salt solutions into the brains of rabbits and cats leads to the formation of “nodules” or tangles of neurofibrils in their neurons, similar to those observed in humans with severe forms of senile dementia – Alzheimer’s disease. These data have been confirmed and significantly supplemented by other researchers. In particular, such structures appeared in the cytoplasm of neurons when culturing mouse neuroblastoma cells in a nutrient medium containing elevated levels of aluminum. Thus, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, a significant role is attributed to the increased aluminum content in the cortical and subcortical areas of the brain.
There are works in the literature where the authors recommend using various chemical substances to reduce the aluminum content in the brain. These substances include desferrioxamine and fluoride compounds. It has been shown that the distribution of aluminum in the body changes under the influence of increased fluoride ion intake. In particular, if rats are given fluoride for 540 days, their aluminum content in bones decreases. From the perspective of geographical pathology, it is very important that in those regions of the USA where the fluoride content in water is high, the number of patients with senile dementia is significantly lower than in regions with low fluoride content. In contrast, no such differences have been found in the prevalence of vascular dementia.
Synergists and antagonists. Aluminum inhibits the absorption of many bioelements and vitamins (calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B6, ascorbic acid) and sulfur-containing amino acids.
Signs of deficiency. Data on possible pathogenic effects of aluminum deficiency in humans are lacking. In animals, an increase in the number of miscarriages, decreased productivity, growth retardation, impaired coordination of movements, and weakness in the limbs are observed.
With excess aluminum, the content of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood decreases. It suppresses the activity of gastric and salivary enzymes. Its excess reduces resistance to infections, causes anemia, can be a neurotoxin – paralyzing the central nervous system and heart, causing head tremors and seizures.
Do not use aluminum cookware!
The toxicity of aluminum is largely related to its antagonism towards calcium and magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and copper, as well as its ability to influence the functions of the parathyroid glands, easily form compounds with proteins, accumulate in the kidneys, bones, and nervous tissue.
The target organs in cases of excessive aluminum concentrations in the body are the kidneys, central nervous system, bones, lungs, bone marrow, ovaries, uterus, and mammary glands.
The main manifestations of aluminum excess: encephalopathies, dysfunctions of the CNS (memory impairment, learning difficulties, nervousness, tendency to depression, progressive senile dementia); development of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease); disturbances in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, hyperparathyroidism, predisposition to the development of osteoporosis, pathological fractures, osteochondrosis, rickets, osteopathies, and other musculoskeletal disorders; development of fibrous lesions in soft tissues; development of aluminosis (“aluminum lungs”) with characteristic pathological changes in lung tissue, dry or wet cough, tearing pains throughout the body, loss of appetite, weight loss, sometimes digestive disorders, stomach pains, changes in blood composition (lymphocytosis, eosinopenia); decreased activity of certain enzymes; constipation; impaired kidney function (nephropathies, increased risk of urolithiasis); decreased iron absorption; decreased erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels in the blood; hypochromic microcytic anemia; suppression of T- and B-cell functions, macrophages; exacerbation of autoimmune diseases; disturbances in the metabolism of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper; there is evidence of the mutagenic activity of aluminum.
Necessary: in peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum, acute and chronic hyperacid gastritis, in fractures, osteoporosis.
Food sources: tea, processed cheeses, mushrooms: honey mushrooms.
Plant products contain 50–100 times more aluminum than animal products.
It is known that during the hot processing of food or baking bread, due to the use of aluminum cookware, food becomes contaminated with this metal.
Drinking water is also a source of aluminum intake, where its content is 2–4 mg/l.