EVIDENCE FOR ALUMINUM ABSORPTION FROM GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT AND BONE DEPOSITION BY ALUMINUM CARBONATE INGESTION WITH NORMAL RENAL-FUNCTION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 90  (5) , 810-815
Abstract
The question of whether Al is toxic in patients ingesting large oral loads, either for phosphate binding in renal dialysis or as an antacid for peptic ulcer, was raised. The permeability of the gut barrier for Al was not established because of the lack of precise analytical techniques. Urine Al was measured in this study before and during oral aluminum carbonate loading in 6 subjects with normal renal function, 1 of which had peptic ulcer disease and a 25 yr history of high oral Al ingestion. The analytical procedure involved destructive neutron activation analysis. Al was present in the urine in all instances before loading and rose in every case from 4-fold to 10-fold. Bone Al was measured in 6 autopsy specimens, 3 dialysis patients, 3 nondialysis patients and in an iliac crest biopsy from the peptic ulcer patient who had osteoporosis. The bone biopsy Al level in the ulcer patient was intermediate between those of normal subjects and patients on dialysis. These results show that the gut barrier is permeable to heavy Al load and suggest that bone Al deposition occurs in humans with normal renal function.

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