Monday, December 4, 2023

1950s screen siren, Allison Hayes, 1930-1977, began taking calcium supplements following a broken arm from a fall off a horse.  



What's interesting is that she suspected that her supplements [brand not mentioned] caused her some lead poisoning, so she hired a toxicologist to measure her lead levels.

Lead poisoning doesn't seem to be a big concern from the FDA since it is so ubiquitous both in food from processing and in supplements.  For obvious developmental reasons, it's important to be vigilant of the food and environment that kids are exposed to so as to minimize their exposure to lead.  ConsumerLab reports that

The FDA has not established a limit on lead in dietary supplements, leaving the decision up to each manufacturer. Due to its common use by children, in April 2022, the FDA proposed an “action level” limit on lead in apple juice of about 2.4 mcg per cup (8 oz) serving, but double that limit for other fruit juices. (FDA Draft Guidance for Industry 2022). 

How prevalent is lead poisoning?  

NCBI explains that,

As concentrations continue to increase in adults, many of them will go on to develop further evidence of toxicity such as peripheral neuropathy and arthritis secondary to saturnine gout. 

This is interesting since so many people link excess beef consumption to gout, but Dr. Shawn Baker says that meat doesn't give you gout, but that it is the result of a metabolic condition.  One brought on by lead poisoning perhaps?  


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