VACCINE

Biofactors • July 1990
Aluminum, a neurotoxin
which affects diverse metabolic reactions
Author information
Joshi JG.
Department of Biochemistry
University of Tennessee
Knoxville 37996-0840
Abstract
Experimental evidence is summarized to support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to
low levels of aluminum may lead to neurological disorders. These disorders result from
defective phosphorylation--dephosphorylation reactions, reduced glucose utilization
and site-specific damage inflicted by free radicals produced by altered iron metabolism.
The brain is a highly compartmentalized organ. Therefore, a co-localization of critical
mass of metabolic errors rather than a single event may be essential to precipitate a neural
disease. Aluminum appears to participate in formulating this critical mass. Patients
with dialysis dementia get partial relief by desferroxamine which chelates aluminum.
However, it also chelates iron and therefore limits its applicability. While the specific
chelator for aluminum is yet to be made available, exercising a caution in aluminum
intake appears prudent.
“Experimental evidence is summarized
to support the hypothesis that chronic exposure
to low levels of aluminum may lead to
neurological disorders.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=2198876