Lead Toxicity

posted on 22 November 2007 | posted in In Depth Articles

Lead is considered the worst pollutant element, for it is one of the most ubiquitous and persistent neurotoxins in the environment. Thanks to the never-ceasing activities of man, beginning with smelting at the time of the Roman Empire and proceeding right through to the scandalous leading of petrol in the latter half of this century, there has been an exponential increase in environmental lead levels with the result that the lead burden of the general population is at least 500 times higher than that intended by nature.

Lead in the atmosphere comes mainly (90%) from petrol additives and to a much lesser extent from industrial processes. The weathering of old leaded paints severely contaminates enviromental dust with lead. Lead in food derives mainly from airborne lead (i.e. from petrol additives) and to a lesser extent from lead solder in cans. Lead in drinking water is derived from lead plumbing (plumbum is latin for lead) and lead solder.

Adverse effects occur at very low tissue levels: in fact there is probably no safe tissue level. Blood is not a good indicator of lead poisioning because lead leaves the bloodstream to be stored in the skeletal and nervous tissues. Hair analysis, however, is a reliable method for detecting lead toxicity and indicates that millions of people in the West are slowly being poisoned by lead. Although the classic symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue and tremors, are fairly obvious, the early signs and symptoms of lead poisoning are usually missed because complaints are vague or associated with other problems. Early symptoms include headaches, fatigue (due to anaemia?), poor memory, depression, apathy, neuroses, insomnia, irritability, indigestion, nausea/vomiting, constipation/diarrhoea, anorexia, muscle pains, joint pains, anaemia, pallor, vertigo, neuritis, and poor co-ordination. Premenstrual depression (PMT-D) is also linked to lead toxicity (lead blocks the binding of oestrogen to its receptors, causing an oestrogen deficiency state). A type of gout known as saturine gout can result from lead toxicity because lead decreases uric acid excretion. Lead pollution has been linked to increased numbers of stillbirths, and to cancer. Moderate lead poisoning causes kidney damage and suppresses the immune system, thus increasing susceptibility to many diseases. It can be a contributory cause of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Severe lead poisoning causes disability, senility, and death. Women are more susceptible to lead poisoning than men. Children are even more susceptible since they have a high metabolic rate and absorb 30-50% of that ingested whereas adults absorb only 5-10%. Lead decreased learning ability, speech disturbances, delinquency and antisocial behaviour, aggressive outbursts, irritability, moodiness, fussiness (especially over foods), anorexia, irregular sleep patterns, fatigue, headaches, colic, sinus conditions, intermittent fever, eczema, asthma, ataxia and epilepsy.

Good nutrition provides a successful antidote to lead poisoning. Dietary fibre, calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, chromium, vitamin A, B-complex vitamins (particularly vitamin B1, nicotinamide, vitamin B6 and folate), vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E all protect against the toxic effects of lead. Most of these nutrients work by blocking the absorption of lead, while others work by reducing tissue build-up or by blocking its detrimental effect on enzymes (as with mercury, cadmium and arsenic, lead inactivates the thiol group of enzymes). Like many toxins, heavy metals are fat-soluble, which makes it difficult for the body to excrete them. The amino acid glutathione has the ability to chelate heavy metals (specifically lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic), and render them water soluble and therefore more readily excretable. Lead poisoning increase glutathione synthesis, but even so there is a marked fall in glutathione levels in the liver, demonstrating that there is a net shortfall. Unlike dietary glutathione (found particularly in avocadoes, asparagus and walnuts), supplemental glutathione is absorbed poorly; the best way to enhance glutathione levels is to take Vitamin C and L-Cysteine (but not N-acetyl cysteine, which can act as a pro-oxidant). This is conveniently acheived by taking Antioxidant Supreme which additionally contains the anti-lead nutrients zinc, manganese and copper. A good antioxidant is in any case desirable in lead poisoning since heavy metals increase oxidative stress. Lipoic acid, like glutathione, possesses the thiol grouping that allows heavy metal chelation, and further, enhances the intracellular synthesis of glutathione.

Codonopsis Formula contains the following herbs, which have all been selected kinesiologically for their anti-lead effects: parsley leaf, parsley root, red clover, bayberry, dandelion leaf, dandelion root, bupleurum and codonopsis. Several of these are well-known detoxifying herbs, and enhance the natural eliminatory actions of the liver, kidneys and skin. Others enhance elimination by increasing circulation. Parsley is a food-state source of several anti-lead nutrients including Vitamin C, calcium and iron. Red clover and bayberry also test well against mercury toxicity and are included in Butchers Broom Formula

An objective methodology such as hair analysis should be employed to monitor the effects of an anti-lead program.

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Lead Toxicity