Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products.
BACKGROUND
Lead, mercury, and arsenic intoxication have been associated with the use of Ayurvedic herbal medicine product (HMPs).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and concentration of heavy metals in Ayurvedic HMPs manufactured in South Asia and sold in Boston-area stores and to compare estimated daily metal ingestion with regulatory standards.


METHODS
Systematic search strategy to identify all stores 20 miles or less from Boston City Hall that sold Ayurvedic HMPs from South Asia by searching online Yellow Pages using the categories markets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, and business names containing the word India, Indian cities, and Indian words. An online national directory of Indian grocery stores, a South Asian community business directory, and a newspaper were also searched. We visited each store and purchased all unique Ayurvedic HMPs between April 25 and October 24, 2003.


METHODS
Concentrations (microg/g) of lead, mercury, and arsenic in each HMP as measured by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Estimates of daily metal ingestion for adults and children estimated using manufacturers' dosage recommendations with comparisons to US Pharmacopeia and US Environmental Protection Agency regulatory standards.


RESULTS
A total of 14 (20%) of 70 HMPs (95% confidence interval, 11%-31%) contained heavy metals: lead (n = 13; median concentration, 40 microg/g; range, 5-37,000), mercury (n = 6; median concentration, 20,225 microg/g; range, 28-104,000), and/or arsenic (n = 6; median concentration, 430 microg/g; range, 37-8130). If taken as recommended by the manufacturers, each of these 14 could result in heavy metal intakes above published regulatory standards.


CONCLUSIONS
One of 5 Ayurvedic HMPs produced in South Asia and available in Boston South Asian grocery stores contains potentially harmful levels of lead, mercury, and/or arsenic. Users of Ayurvedic medicine may be at risk for heavy metal toxicity, and testing of Ayurvedic HMPs for toxic heavy metals should be mandatory.
Saper
Robert B
RB
Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Osher Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. robert.saper@bmc.org
Kales
Stefanos N
SN
Paquin
Janet
J
Burns
Michael J
MJ
Eisenberg
David M
DM
Davis
Roger B
RB
Phillips
Russell S
RS
D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012306:Risk; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014481:United States
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D028321:Plant Preparations; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic