Metabolic balance of aluminum studied in six men

Abstract

The metabolism of aluminum was followed in patients who were receiving strictly controlled diets, either unaltered or supplemented with aluminum-containing antacids. Aluminum was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with a graphite furnace. All food, water, and medications were analyzed, as were aliquots of urine and stool collected throughout six-day periods. Patients were usually studied for five consecutive six-day periods on the same diet and aluminum intake. This study included six patients who were studied for seven to 21 such six-day periods. During control periods, when the patients were receiving less than 5 mg of aluminum per day, the balance was usually slightly negative, but when the diet was supplemented with antacids to contain 1-3g of aluminum per day, an average positive balance of 23 to 313 mg of aluminum per day was observed for the total time on the same intake. Consecutive six day either positive or negative balances, but the average retention for 18-84 days on antacids was always positive. Thus the potential effects of the storage of aluminum in the tissues must be considered in the chronic administration of antacids.