Aluminum & Vitamin C
© 1996 - 2004 PFPC

Domingo JL, Gomez M, Llobet JM, Richart C - “Effect of ascorbic acid on gastrointestinal aluminium absorption” Lancet 338:1467 (1991)

“To determine whether ascorbic acid augments the gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of aluminum (aluminium), 13 healthy volunteers who received 900 mg of aluminum hydroxide 3 times/day alone or with 2 g of ascorbic acid for 3 days were studied. Results showed that ingestion of ascorbic acid together with aluminum hydroxide caused a significant increase in urine aluminum excretion, presumably because of enhanced GI absorption. It was concluded that ascorbic acid administration to patients with renal failure who are taking aluminum containing compounds may be harmful.”

Domingo JL, Gomez M, Sanchez DJ, Llobet JM, Corbella J - “Effect of various dietary constituents on gastrointestinal   absorption of aluminum from drinking water and diet” Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 79 377-380 (1993)

“The influence of some frequent dietary constituents on gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum from drinking water and diet was investigated in mice. Eight groups of male mice received lactic (57.6 mg/kg/day, tartaric (96 mg/kg/day), gluconic (125.4 mg/kg/day), malic (85.8 mg/kg/day), succinic (75.6 mg/kg/day), ascorbic (112.6 mg/kg/day), citric (124 mg/kg/day), and oxalic (80.6 mg/kg/day) acids in the drinking water for one month. At the end of this period, animals were killed and aluminum concentrations in liver, spleen, kidney, brain, and bone were determined. All the dietary constituents significantly increased the aluminum levels in bone, whereas brain aluminum concentrations were also raised by the intake of lactic, gluconic, malic, citric, and oxalic acids. The levels of aluminum found in spleen were significantly increased by gluconic and ascorbic acid, whereas gluconic and oxalic acids also raised the concentrations of aluminum found in kidneys.”

Domingo JL, Gomez M, Llobet JM, Corbella J- “Influence of some dietary constituents on aluminum absorption  and retention in rats” Kidney Int  39 (4)  598-601 (1991)

“Eight groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 281 mg Al(OH)3/kg/day by gastric intubation five times a week for five weeks. Concurrently, animals in seven groups received ascorbic acid (56.3 mg/kg/day), citric acid (62 mg/kg/day), gluconic acid (62.7 mg/kg/day), lactic acid (28.8 mg/kg/day), malic acid (42.9 mg/kg/day), oxalic acid (28.8 mg/kg/day), and tartaric acid (48 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water. The eighth group did not receive any dietary constituent in the water and was designated as the control group. Animals were placed in plastic metabolic cages and urine was collected during the treatment period. The liver, spleen, kidney, brain and bone aluminum levels of each rat were measured, as well as the total amount of aluminum excreted into urine. All the dietary constituents significantly increased the aluminum concentrations in most of the tissues, with ascorbic and citric acids showing the highest rate of aluminum accumulation.”

Fulton B, Jeffery EH - “Absorption and retention of aluminum from drinking water. 1. Effect of citric and ascorbic acids on aluminum tissue levels in rabbits” Fundam Appl Toxicol 14:788-796 (1990)

Partridge NA, Regnier FE, White JL, Hem SL - “Influence of dietary constituents on intestinal absorption of aluminum” Kidney Int 35:1413-1417 (1989)