EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL MINERALS ON CADMIUM TOXICITY. A Review

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Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that has no known beneficial effects in living organisms. At levels several‐fold above the average intake of 50 μg/day for man in the U.S., Cd can interfere with the metabolism of the essential elements iron, calcium, zinc, manganese and copper. Antagonism of the first two elements has been observed in man and the last three in experimental animals only. When Cd was fed to young Japanese quail at levels ranging from 0.78 to 80 mg/kg diet, Cd was markedly concentrated in duodenal tissue at the lowest intake levels. Maximal duodenal Cd concentrations were obtained with 20 mg Cd/kg diet. Dietary Cd caused decreased concentrations of essential mineral elements in duodenal and other tissues. A major effect of high levels of dietary Cd appears to be interference with absorption of essential minerals. Excess dietary intakes of essential minerals can either decrease or eliminate some of these effects of Cd, as well as result in decreased Cd concentrations in the kidney, a target organ for Cd accumulation and functional damage. Environmental toxicants such as Cd cannot be completely avoided. It is important, therefore, to define low intake levels of essential nutrients at which toxicity of Cd is exacerbated and high intake levels of essential nutrients at which toxicity of Cd is minimized.

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