Gallium: The Opponent of Thrombi

    The daily requirement for the human body has not been determined.

    Gallium mainly enters the body through food and is present in tissues in trace amounts (0.01–0.06 µg/g). There are isolated reports of the presence of gallium in endocrine glands, particularly in the pituitary gland. The “depot” of gallium in the body is the bone tissue and liver.

    Biological role in the human body. Gallium does not affect the resorption of bone tissue, which is stimulated by vitamin D, but it prevents resorption associated with the metabolism of parathyroid hormone, thyroxine, and interleukin-1-β.

    Gallium is an ultra-trace element, that is incorporated into the membranes of red blood cells, it is a constant component of blood, accelerates blood flow, promotes blood drainage from peripheral vessels, and prevents thrombus formation.

    Recently, American scientists reported the discovery of antibacterial activity in gallium, which was observed even in the most resistant bacteria to a wide range of antibiotics. The effectiveness of certain metal ions against microorganisms has been known for quite some time – silver, for example, has been used for processing and storing drinking water for hundreds of years. However, gallium acts on microbes in a completely different way: bacteria, due to a certain analogy in the structure of gallium and iron atoms, may mistakenly use gallium instead of iron, thereby halting their growth. Gallium thus plays the role of a peculiar “Trojan horse,” as it easily penetrates membranes and exerts a destructive effect inside the cell.

    Synergists and antagonists of gallium. Not established.

    Signs of gallium deficiency: scientific data is lacking.

    Main manifestations of gallium excess: in animals, gallium poisoning leads to damage to the nervous system, accompanied by morphological changes in the liver and kidneys. Significant fluctuations in potassium and sodium levels in the blood serum are observed, along with damage to the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.
    The widespread use of gallium arsenide (primarily in semiconductor manufacturing) since the early 1980s has increased the risk of intoxication with this element not only for workers in the electronics industry but also for the general population, as methods for the disposal and recycling of waste containing gallium arsenide have not been developed. The main “target” for gallium arsenide in the body is the immune system. This element can also disrupt gel formation in the body by enhancing the excretion of aminolevulinic acid and porphyrins.

    Gallium is necessary: in medicine, gallium nitrate is used to treat hypercalcemia in cancer patients, where the effect is achieved by suppressing the activity of osteoclasts.
    Gallium radioisotopes are used in the diagnosis and treatment of tumor diseases. Gallium is relatively low in toxicity.
    The possibility of using gallium for the treatment of chronic infectious lung diseases (including possibly tuberculosis) and especially cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis) is being studied.

    Dietary sources of gallium: wheat groats (especially semolina), honey, many types of mushrooms (including white mushrooms).