Question on 'acceptable' lead in calcium supplements?

[Claire]

Since my husband, son and I all have lead in our blood, I was looking for a source for it.

 

I just heard back from Whole Foods on the amount of lead in their 'bone complex'. We like this complex because I have read studies that the MCA (microcrystalline hydroxy apatate) is the most absorbed of all the calciums, plus, it has some of the other key minerals needed to absorb calcium (magnesium, boron, etc...)

 

The results:6 capsules/dose (we take 1 or 2)

1 capsule =1 gram =1000 mg total MCA

1 capsule contains .0276 mg =~.03 mg.

=> this is .0003% lead in a capsule.

They say the MCA has 24 ppm lead, so I don't know where the rest comes from.

 

Does anyone know an okay amount of lead to be ingesting? Any reference numbers from the FDA (which are likely higher than I would like)?

 

I know that when I starting buying Dave's tuna (for $10/can!), they had something showing the mercury level, and then showed it was the same level as in wild salmon, and contrasted it to normal canned tuna. I would love a reference point like that.

 

Anyone done research here?

 

Thanks,

Claire

[kim]

Claire...what am I missing here?

 

Do you read this the way I do, that calcium actually keeps lead in the bone, thus minimizing the amount in the blood, thereby protecting the fetus?

 

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...i?artid=1247613

[Claire]

What I got from the data was that calcium supplementation lowered blood lead. But the conclusion as to WHY it does it, is so different from what I have heard. Yes, I read it the same way you did... hard to read it otherwise.

 

"For subjects replete in calcium, the delay in increase in blood lead and halving of the extra flux released from bone during late pregnancy and postpartum may provide less lead exposure to the developing fetus and newly born infant."

 

Too weird. I have read that people who are calcium and iron deficient tend to have worse lead levels. This would certainly pose a different theory as to why! What I read was that without calcium to fill out the bones, the body pulled the lead into the bones, where that lead might otherwise be excreted. So it was more that calcium prevented it from going into the bones in the first place, rather than calcium not letting it out of the bones.

 

But you notice that they used calcium carbonate, which we (now) know has excess lead? Makes you wonder how 'adding' lead impacted their study.

 

Also, reading this and thinking of my likely bone lead from a smoking parent, made me realize that I was likely 'contributing' lead to my son in the womb, just as my amalgams contributed mercury.

 

Claire

[patty]

Clarie & Kim,

 

I have been giving my son Rhino Calcium in the form of calcium carbonate for the past 2 weeks. The manufacturer claims that their product does not contain lead. Is this reliable? As i am reading your posts, sounds like all calcium carbonate contain lead?!

 

Help!!

 

Patty

[kim]

Patty.

 

Can you tell the source of the calcium, from the label?

 

 

http://www.vrg.org/journal/94jan.htm#science......some gluten info and recipes on this page too.

 

 

Scientific Updates

A Review of Recent Scientific Papers Related to Vegetarianism

By Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.

 

Calcium Supplements can Contain Lead

About 10 years ago, the Food and Drug Admin-istration cautioned that calcium supplements, mainly those produced from bonemeal and dolomite, can contain excess lead. Lead is a toxic metal that can damage the nervous system. Canadian researchers recently measured lead in 70 brands of dietary calcium supplements.

While the study did not report brand names, it did show that calcium supplements from bonemeal and dolomite still had much higher lead contents than did the amount of cow's milk which would provide the same amount of calcium. Some brands of calcium carbonate from "natural sources" (from fossilized oyster shells) also contained excessive lead. Generally calcium carbonate produced in a laboratory (often referred to as refined) and calcium bound to various chelates (calcium gluconate, calcium lactate) did not contain excessive lead.

 

Calcium supplements are not needed by most Americans since food can provide all the calcium we need. However, for those who do need to use calcium supplements, calcium from dolomite, bonemeal, and many "natural source" calcium products should be avoided because of their lead content.

 

For further information see: Bourgoin BP, Evans DR, Cornett JR, Lingard SM, Quattrone AJ. Lead content in 70 brands of dietary calcium supplements. Am J Public Health 83:1155-1160, 1993.

[quan_daniel]

All,

My child's calcium says dicalcium phospate.

I hope we have no problem with this.

Thanks

[kim]

Claire/Daniel,

 

This is from an article posted on page 9 of the "Articles" thread:

 

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lead

content, assayed using electrothermal atomic absorption, expressed as

micrograms of lead per 800 mg/d of elemental calcium, per 1500 mg/d of

calcium, and for a range of dosages for patients with renal failure.

Six microg/d of lead was considered the absolute dietary limit, with

no more than 1 microg/d being the goal for supplements. RESULTS: Four

of 7 natural products had measurable lead content, amounting to

approximately 1 microg/d for 800 mg/d of calcium, between 1 and 2

microg/d for 1500 mg/d of calcium, and up to 10 microg/d for renal

dosages. Four of the 14 refined products had similar lead content,

including up to 3 microg/d of lead in osteoporosis calcium dosages and

up to 20 microg/d in high renal dosages. No lead was detected in the

calcium acetate or polymer products. Lead was present even in some

brand name products from major pharmaceutical companies not of natural

oyster shell derivation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasingly stringent

limits of lead exposure, many calcium supplement formulations contain

lead and thereby may pose an easily avoidable public health concern.

JAMA. 2000;284:1425-1429.

[Claire]

AAARGH. So we are getting 30 mcg/capsule or OVER the amount. And a full dose is 6 capsules, or 180 mcg! (Fortunately, we don't take that much)

 

So the calcium I have been giving us to get RID of lead (per Pfeiffer) is actually contributing (Disclaimer: Pfeiffer didn't tell me to give this type of calcium, they told us to take calcium CARBONATE!!). I just pulled the calcium from our supplements.

 

Kim, THANK you for your PM, as I missed this input from you completely. You are truly a godsend, thank you!! I looked for this information on daily limits and failed to find it. I feel so badly about this. I callled Whole Foods when I started this 2 years ago and they assured me lead wasn't a factor in this blend. Then I called back last month and got those 'hard numbers'. When my son had his first high lead measurement in his hair, we were supplementing so much more calcium.

 

But I do remember that he showed the same level of lead in his blood on his very first test, before we did any calcium supplementation. So fortunately I didn't cause this problem, though I may well have perpetuated it.

 

Yes, we are doing EDTA now. I started the phospholipid version for me and ended up with intense lympathic pain near the armpits. So I am stopping and will reintroduce at a smaller dosage and see what happens. My son is getting the oral liquid (less absorbed) and has been for a month now. I see zero side affects (I did the liquid EDTA first myself and felt nothing either). But we will retest his levels, including calcium, in a couple of weeks.

 

Thank you so much again Kim.

 

Claire

[kim]

Boy Claire, you've probably given us all something to think about with our calcium supplements.

 

It feels like you have to be looking 360 degrees, all the time doesn't it?

 

I guess the reaction you got with the phospholipid EDTA does indicated a difference, from the less absorable form, that you chose to keep your son on.

 

I will pray that his levels fall using this form. I'm sure slow and study would be fine with you!

 

I'm glad I was "led" to the lead info...you're SO welcome.

[quan_daniel]

Scary..guys..

--

Why should I avoid natural sources of calcium?

 

Again, the major problem is lead contamination. This issue has been addressed in numerous studies looking at commercial calcium supplements.2,3 In one study, the lead content of 136 brands of calcium supplements was determined.2 The calcium in the products was derived from natural sources (bonemeal, dolomite, or oyster shell) or was synthesized and/or refined (chelated and nonchelated calcium such as calcium citrate and carbonate). Two-thirds of those calcium supplements failed to meet the acceptable lead levels (1.5 microg/daily dose of calcium) in consumer products. The most likely products to contain lead were the natural forms, while the products most likely not to contain lead with products like calcium citrate or refined (purified) calcium carbonate. The results from this study are consistent with all of the others. It is quite alarming as lead from calcium supplements definitely contributes to elevated lead levels in the body.4

 

 

http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/CoralCalcium.htm

[Claire]

Thanks Daniel! Further confirmation of the proper lead limit.

 

So they say that calcium citrate is safe. However, my reading was that supplementing calcium citrate did nothing to bone density (That's why I did the MCA one).

 

Kim, you are so right about looking around 360 degrees! I should never have take a 'reassurance' from Whole Foods without hard numbers. Still, this gives me hope that things will get better.

 

One doctor I saw said that raw almonds were an incredibly absorbable source of calcium (too bad I only love them smoked...!).

 

Strontium has been shown in double blind studies to improved calcium absorption/density, so I will continue that regularly. (below)

 

Okay, my term to post some research...it has been awhile...

 

Claire

 

 

 

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent....chunkiid=111809

 

In a 3-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 5,091 women with osteoporosis, use of strontium at a dose of 2 grams daily significantly improved bone density and reduced incidence of all fractures as compared to placebo.1 Additionally, in a 3-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 1,649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and a history of at least one vertebral fracture, use of strontium ranelate at a dose of 2 grams daily reduced the incidence of new vertebral fractures by 49% in the first year and 41% in the full 3-year period (as compared to placebo).6 Use of strontium also significantly increased measured bone density. No significant side effects were seen.

 

A fourth study tested strontium ranelate for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal who have not yet developed it.4 In this 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 160 women received either placebo or strontium ranelate at a dose of 125 mg, 500 mg, or 1 gram daily. The results showed greater gains in bone density the more strontium taken.

 

While some treatments for osteoporosis act to increase bone formation, and other decrease bone breakdown, some evidence suggests that strontium ranelate has a dual effect, providing both these benefits at once.14

 

Other forms of strontium besides strontium ranelate, such as strontium chloride, have shown potential benefits in animal studies, but have not undergone significant testing in people.3,8-13

 

 

---------------------

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/348/16/1517

Intellectual Impairment in Children with Blood Lead Concentrations below 10 µg per Deciliter

 

Background Despite dramatic declines in children's blood lead concentrations and a lowering of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's level of concern to 10 µg per deciliter (0.483 µmol per liter), little is known about children's neurobehavioral functioning at lead concentrations below this level.

 

Methods We measured blood lead concentrations in 172 children at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months of age and administered the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale at the ages of 3 and 5 years. The relation between IQ and blood lead concentration was estimated with the use of linear and nonlinear mixed models, with adjustment for maternal IQ, quality of the home environment, and other potential confounders.

 

Results The blood lead concentration was inversely and significantly associated with IQ. In the linear model, each increase of 10 µg per deciliter in the lifetime average blood lead concentration was associated with a 4.6-point decrease in IQ (P=0.004), whereas for the subsample of 101 children whose maximal lead concentrations remained below 10 µg per deciliter, the change in IQ associated with a given change in lead concentration was greater. When estimated in a nonlinear model with the full sample, IQ declined by 7.4 points as lifetime average blood lead concentrations increased from 1 to 10 µg per deciliter.

 

-------------------------------

http://www.drkaslow.com/html/histadelia.html

 

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, "oppositional-defiant disorder," or seasonal depression are under-methylated, which is associated with low serotonin levels. Often with inhalant allergies, frequent headaches, perfectionism, competitiveness and other distinctive symptoms and traits. Tend to be very low in calcium, magnesium, methionine, and vitamin B-6 with excessive levels of folic acid. People with histadelics have a positive effect from SSRIs and other serotonin-enhancing medications (Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.) because methylation is a step in the manufacture of mood stabilizing neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, histadelics often have nasty side effects with these medications.

 

--------------------

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...i?artid=1242086

Iron deficiency associated with higher blood lead in children living in contaminated environments.

 

----------------------

Interesting cut on pregnant women and lead that Kim raised earlier...

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/news/calcium.php

 

Pregnant women who do not get enough calcium have higher blood levels of lead than pregnant women who consume adequate amounts of calcium, according to a recent study released by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 

Calcium is essential to the development of the fetal skeleton. If a pregnant woman does not consume enough calcium, either through her diet or by taking supplements, the calcium in her bone tissue will be released to meet the demands of the developing fetus.

 

In addition to calcium, the bone tissue is also where 95% of the body’s lead is stored. As the calcium is released, so is the lead. The greater the demands on the bone tissue for calcium, the higher the lead levels in the blood. The lead is then passed from the pregnant woman to her unborn child.

 

------------------------------

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v262/...s/262051a0.html

Increased lead ingestion in calcium-deficient monkeys

 

VOLUNTARY ingestion of lead (lead pica) by children is a puzzling phenomenon. The resulting lead poisoning can lead to painful physical symptoms, mental retardation and brain damage1−5. Yet ingestion often persists after toxic symptoms appear if the child has access to lead6. We have shown that weanling rats made calcium deficient increased their voluntary ingestion of lead to levels much greater than those of control rats7. It was suggested that, because of the metabolic similarity of lead to calcium, ingestion of lead might relieve symptoms of calcium deficiency, attenuate the normal aversive effects of lead ingestion, and thus maintain continued ingestion.

[Claire]

With all the other links, I did want to emphasize that I am planning on just supplementing STRONTIUM instead of calcium. A doctor I went to suggested this (plus the almonds).

 

 

By the way, I have read multiple places now that strontium shouldn't be taken at the same time as calcium, which we were doing, darn it!

 

Claire

 

I figure the best info on calcium absorption is from the osteo studies...

 

More on strontium

http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/447

In a three-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study using 680 milligrams of strontium daily, women suffering from osteoporosis experienced a 41 percent reduction in risk of a vertebral fracture, compared with placebo. And, overall vertebrae density in the strontium group increased by 11.4 percent but there was a 1.3 percent decrease in the placebo group.

 

Strontium is available as strontium carbonate, strontium chloride, strontium sulfate, strontium gluconate and strontium citrate. In clinical research strontium gluconate was absorbed better than strontium carbonate. It is my clinical opinion that strontium citrate is absorbed better than the other forms of this mineral.

 

**We do Pure Encapsulations Strontium Citrate. that brand doesn't use fillers so the capsules are always smaller**

 

Cows milk and osteo

http://www.browardspine.com/articles/18.htm

[kim]

Claire,

 

After reading your exchange with Chemar on another thread, I thought I would share this here.

 

I googled Citracal, which is the calciom supplement that I have been giving the boys, mostly because it is citrate, and all I could find at the health food stores and even online, was a combination of different calcium, and I wanted no carbonate. I also wanted vitamin D, which Bontech vits, didn't contain at the time.

 

Citracal with D, was the best one I found. I could also buy the petites, and they're coated. We had some that weren't coated, and they were hard for my youngest son to swallow them. They were hard for me too.

 

This is what I found, which made me feel better. It also talks about carbonate as being absorbable???? A couple of the other articles that I read, did too. Confusing. I just hope the information on the lead content is correct. This article states that the maximum FDA rec, intake for lead shouldn't exceed 6.o mcg/day from all sources. I'm assuming that that is a level which could keep you chronically ill, if that's their recommendation whoops, i can't believe I typed that out loud.

 

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/guides/calcium.htm

 

Some people taking calcium supplements are concerned about lead content. The FDA maximum for lead intake is 6.0 mcg/day. Lead-free calcium supplements include Tums, Walgreen's, Equate, Nature Made, Sundown (all calcium carbonate) as well as Citracal (calcium citrate). Two well known calcium supplements that contain lead are, Caltrate (3.43 mcg/day) and OsCal (1.74 mcg/day). These amounts assume an intake of 1500 mg of calcium per day.

 

Should I be taking calcium carbonate or calcium citrate?

 

In general, calcium carbonate costs less, and is just as effective.

Calcium carbonate is best absorbed when taken with meals. Calcium citrate can be taken at any time.

If constipation is an issue, calcium citrate (Citracal) may be a better choice for some people.

Most experts suggest that patients taking drugs that block stomach acid (this includes medications such as Zantac, Pepcid, Prilosec, or Protonix, but these are not all of the drugs) take calcium citrate rather than calcium carbonate.

 

July 2005

Information maintained by the UMHS Clinical Care Guidelines Committee

 

This is the page that the search pulled up

 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=...G=Google+Search

[Claire]

Kim,

 

Thx...no time to digest right now, busy week. I will investigate your research later (you know it is important to me)!

 

Claire

[quan_daniel]

Kim,

I have been given my child Freed Multi Vitamin...

and they claim..

http://www.freedavitamins.com/

 

All of our products are:

100% Vegetarian

Kosher Certified

Sugar-Free

Salt-Free

Yeast-Free

Gluten-Free

Lactose-Free

 

Kim, claire,

See the link for the ingredient.

http://www.freedavitamins.com/graphics/00000001/vitalets.gif

 

He is only taking one per day..eventhough he is 7 years old.

 

I don't like the calcium..dicalcium phosphate..

 

 

 

 

Dicalcium Phosphate is deadly !!!!

 

 

http://www.heart-disease-bypass-surgery.co.../studies/12.htm

 

Mined from deposits within the earth's crust, calcium phosphate is known by many synonyms such as "lime," "hardware lime," "calcium lime" or "dolomite." Mixed samples of the substance may have a high percentage of impurities imbedded in them which may be harmful. For instance, one of the compounds found in DCP may be lead. Dolomite, in particular, has been singled out as containing a high percentage of lead.

 

While we refer to DCP as Di-Calcium Phosphate, the term is used broadly to include all forms of calcium phosphate. Some deposits may be slightly higher proportionately as regards to particular ingredients. Whatever the differences, all are considered forms of calcium phosphate and act metabolically in a similar manner.

 

What SHOULD I do...