Abstract
Aluminum is in our water and food, and is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. About 40% of the ingested dose accumulates within the intestinal mucosa, making the gut the main target of inflammation and autoimmunity; about 1% accumulates in the skeletal system and brain, inducing the cross-linking of amyloid-β-42 peptide and the formation of amyloid aggregates associated with Alzheimer’s disease. To examine whether the accumulation of aluminum in the gut and brain tissues results in neoantigen formation, we bound aluminum compounds to human serum albumin. We used ELISA to measure IgG antibody in 94 different sera from healthy controls and 47 sera from each group of patients: anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody-positive (Crohn’s), and positive for deamidated α-gliadin and transglutaminase-2 IgA antibodies (celiac disease), autoimmune disorders associated with intestinal tissue antigens. Because earlier studies have shown that aluminum exposure is linked to Alzheimer’s disease etiology, and high aluminum content is detected in Alzheimer’s patients’ brain tissue, we also measured aluminum antibody in the blood of these patients. Additionally, we measured aluminum antibody in the sera of mixed connective tissue disease patients who were positive for antinuclear antibodies, and used them as disease controls. We found significant IgG antibody elevation against all three aluminum compounds in the sera of patients with Crohn’s, celiac and Alzheimer’s disease, but not in patients with mixed connective tissue disease. We concluded that aluminum ingestion and absorption from the GI tract and brain may contribute to Crohn’s, celiac and Alzheimer’s disease, but not to mixed connective tissue disease.
Highlights
The industrialization of the world during the past century has led to the accumulation of aluminum and other heavy metals, in our surrounding ecosystems, but in our bodies as well
The main route of exposure to aluminum is through water, after it has gone through a filtration system, and through processed food, for which aluminum is used for preservation purposes
The data presented in these figures show that while 10% of controls had elevations in IgG antibody to different forms of aluminum, based on cutoff values respectively of 1.010, 0.8655, and 0.6895,the percentage of elevated samples for aluminum hydroxide antibody was 34% (AUC 0.74, p < 0.0001), aluminum citrate antibody was 41% (AUC 0.80, p < 0.0001), and aluminum potassium sulfate antibody was 65% (AUC 0.87, p < 0.0001) as detected in the sera of patients who were anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA)-positive (Crohn’s disease) (Figure 1A–C)
Summary
The industrialization of the world during the past century has led to the accumulation of aluminum and other heavy metals, in our surrounding ecosystems, but in our bodies as well. Due to the demand in developed countries in the past 60 years, the production of aluminum and its use has increased by more than 35% [1,2]. The main route of exposure to aluminum is through water, after it has gone through a filtration system, and through processed food, for which aluminum is used for preservation purposes. Aluminum is used in pharmacological products such as antiperspirants and anti-acids, through which the metal enters the body [3]. The increased consumption of processed foods such as bread, cakes, pastries, ice cream, candies, cheeses, infant formulas, coffee creamer, chocolate and so on, some with aluminum adjuvants for preservation purposes, some stored in aluminum containers, or even both, are just a few examples of sources of oral intake of aluminum [3,4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
