title: Increased absorption of aluminium from a normal dietary intake in dementia.
abstract: Serum aluminium was significantly raised (p < 0.01) up to 2-3-fold, in patients with dementia including Alzheimers Disease (AD) 0.66 +/- 0.2 (mumol/l mean +/- 1 s.d.) and patients on regular aluminium hydroxide therapy 0.54 +/- 0.17, compared with healthy volunteers 0.21 +/- 0.13, although not as high as in patients with end stage renal failure on regular dialysis 0.88 +/- 0.42. The urine outputs (mumol/l mean +/- 1 s.d.) of aluminium and silicon, respectively, were also significantly increased up to 5-fold in dementia 2.89 +/- 1.78 (n = 23) and 1587 +/- 645 (n = 22) and patients on regular aluminium hydroxide therapy 5.03 +/- 2.08 (n = 8) and 998 +/- 364 (n = 21) compared with healthy volunteers 0.95 +/- 0.82 (n = 84) and 471 +/- 332 (n = 114). The increase in urine aluminium was thus associated with a similarly marked increase in the output of silicon. The increased absorption of aluminium in dementia patients is equivalent to the intestinal loading in Aludrox therapy. Also silicon appears to be important in the renal excretion of the absorbed aluminium. Whether this is a phenomenon related to the elderly or the process of dementia warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clough
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bellia
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000535:Aluminum / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012825:Silicon / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C013591:aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, drug combination; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D000535:Aluminum; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide; D012825:Silicon